From Abuse to Empowerment: How Olympic Boxer Lesley Sackey Helps Women Fight Back Through Boxing

Olympic Boxer's Remarkable Journey from Abuse Survivor to Empowering Thousands

Lesley Sackey, a former Team GB boxer who competed in Britain's first female Olympic boxing selection team, has channeled her personal survival story into a powerful movement. The 43-year-old European Championship gold medalist now runs Fight Forward, a groundbreaking nonprofit using boxing to help women recover from domestic abuse and trauma.

The Turning Point

"I was in survival mode," Sackey told BBC News, reflecting on her own experience with abuse. "It wasn't until I was around other women I started to see 'actually, this isn't healthy.'" After her Olympic dreams ended in 2012, Sackey found her new purpose: "I wanted to feel strong and empowered. I thought, what does that look like?" For this champion boxer, the answer was clear - helping others through the sport that saved her.

Fight Forward: More Than Just Boxing

Operating from a gym in London's Kilburn neighborhood, Fight Forward has already helped over 100 women since its 2022 launch, with 20 graduates completing the full program. Sackey's ambitious vision? "I'd love to help 100,000 women. I think it's completely possible."

The Stark Reality

• 1 in 4 UK women experience abuse in their lifetime
• Estimated 8.5 million affected women in UK alone
• Many cases go unreported due to societal stigma

Transformative Stories from the Ring

Antonia "Amja" Lee's Breakthrough

The 49-year-old was inspired after attending one of Lesley's fight nights: "I have also had the experience of domestic abuse. Fight Forward allows you to feel again and create your own closure." Lee endured stalking and violent attacks, including having hot oil thrown in her face.

Yurdal Mohammad Finds Her Strength

"I didn't even realize it was domestic violence until I told the police," admits Mohammad, whose partner's behavior escalated from emotional abuse to severe physical violence. "This group provides a very safe space to talk about it - probably for the first time in years."

Saria Alireza's Eight-Year Transformation

Training with Lesley since 2016, Alireza explains the profound difference between boxing and abuse: "You're not fighting somebody else. You're fighting for yourself, not against each other."

The Healing Power of Boxing

Research shows combat sports can help trauma survivors by:

1. Regaining bodily autonomy
2. Building self-confidence
3. Creating supportive communities
4. Developing practical self-defense skills
5. Processing trauma physically and mentally

For more information on domestic abuse support, visit BBC Action Line. To follow Lesley's inspiring work, check out Fight Forward on social media.