‘I have to give myself grace and be proud’

It’s taken 30 years but Tongan sports fans can now celebrate following their first-ever female boxer competing at the Paris Olympics.

American-born Fe'ofa’aki Epenisa has become the first woman to compete for Tonga in boxing.

Despite her defeat to Vietnamese Ha Thi Linh in the women’s 60kg division, Epenisa was gracious to compete with other high-level athletes.

“I think (I take) more of a confidence in myself (that) I can do this. I just realised that was my 14th fight, so coming into the Olympics with these girls who have had hundreds of fights.

“I just have to give myself grace with the understanding (to) be proud because that’s a huge accomplishment on its own.”

Fe'ofa'aki Epenisa speaks with PMN Olympics correspondent James Nokise in Paris. Photo/supplied

Epenisa, who had her first bout in 2019, said boxing was something she was taught by her father from a young age.

She said boxing offered her “mental clarity”.

“Strangely, a lot of it is to face my fears and my doubts in myself, showing up every day and trying to conquer myself is the main reason I show up.

“It brings out another side (of me), a confidence to compete.”

Boxers from Tonga have had a successful history at the Olympics.

Super heavyweight Paea Wolfgramm became the first Pacific athlete to win a medal at the Olympics in 1996.

Three decades on, Tonga makes history through Epenisa who said navigating “uncharted territory” was important in her journey.

“I’m walking in uncharted territory. It’s a path that no woman has walked, and within the Polynesian culture, there’s a lot of challenge that comes with that.

“Even in boxing it’s a male-dominated sport, and in Tongan culture, it’s very male-dominated. So I think my biggest challenge is staying steadfast, determined, working hard, and keeping my goal in mind.

“When something doesn’t go my way, re-evaluating the situation, what can I do to get to where I want to go. So checking in with myself, my coach, and finding the path that aligns with me, from him and we keep it moving towards the goal!”.

Epenisa and her Tongan boxing team did not have an easy route to the Olympics.

She said there was financial trouble, among many things, that nearly prevented her from competing at the Paris games.

“I had to make a GoFundMe Page to make this final push to the Olympics. I was overwhelmed, honestly. We literally had nothing, and my dad came and said ‘Don’t ever beg for money’ and ‘Somehow in the islands we always make it work’.

“So it was outside of my comfort zone to ask people for money. I felt like as much as it feels good to receive a gift, it feels good for somebody to give. I had to keep that in mind, a lot of people were willing to support me and see my dreams come true.

“In that perspective, I also had to allow people to help me.”

Epenisa’s coach Danilo Garcia said he was “amazed” at the progress his fighter has made, and how her work has culminated at the Olympics.

“I mean this is the Olympics! This is the grandest stage of them all, there are billions of people watching. And she was the flagbearer for her country.

“I’m amazed by what she’s accomplished as a boxer, but more importantly as a person. My job as a coach is to make sure she competes at her best when she’s in the ring.

“But more importantly than that is to reach her maximum potential outside of the ring as a person. Even though we didn’t get the result, she’s winning at life because of who she is as a person,” Garcia said.

The Paris Olympics ends on 12 August, NZ time.

Find the official Olympic medal tally here.

Watch full interview with Feo’fao’aki Epenisa below:

PMN's Olympics coverage is proudly brought to you by the Pasifika Medical Association Group.