Chantelle Reid Stays Positive After Olympic Loss

Despite a middleweight round of 16 loss to Khadija Mardi at the Tokyo Olympics, Team GB’s Chantelle Reid remains upbeat. The Derby boxer reflected on her performance, acknowledging the challenges of the match while expressing pride in her journey.

“I feel good. I couldn’t have done anything more in the ring, so I’m happy with my performance,” she said. “I definitely feel I won the first round. My opponent changed her tactics, and I tried to stick to the plan as best I could, but I didn’t get the decision.”

Reid’s focus shifted to the larger picture, highlighting her gratitude for the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious event. “I feel so blessed just to have qualified. I'm grateful to be here with the best team, coaches, and support staff. I’m boxing against the best in the world. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I'm just so grateful to be an Olympian, and that's not going to be taken away from me. That will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

The magnitude of her achievement wasn't lost on Reid. "Two years ago, I never envisioned this," she confessed. "Last January, I came back aiming to win Championships, let alone qualify for the Olympics. But yeah, I’m an Olympian, and I’m proud of myself, proud of my hard work, proud that I gave 100% in my performance, and that’s all I could have asked myself to do.”

Looking forward, Reid expressed a desire to continue her journey with Team GB. "I’ve really enjoyed being on Team GB, I haven’t been here long, so four more years isn’t out of the picture. Me and the coaches will review the fight and see what can be adjusted, what we can improve on, and learn from it. We'll get better from now.”

Reid concluded with a positive outlook on her future prospects. “I’ve never gone into the ring feeling so good, so confident, and like I was going to get the win, so no bad feelings going into the fight at all.”

Chantelle Reid’s journey to the Olympics is an inspiration, and her determination to learn and grow from this experience promises exciting prospects for the future.