Rulebook KO's national champion's 2010 Olympic dream

-  July 2010

Courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times
By Olivia Caldwell

She is New Zealand's undisputed No 1 and an Oceania light welterweight champion to boot, but it's the rulebook rather than an errant fist that has knocked Tauranga boxer Kelly Woolrich out of the Olympics. Woolrich will be too old to compete at the London Olympics in 2012 so she's pushing for the next best - a spot standing on the podium at the world amateur championships in Barbados in September.

Age is all that stands in the way of Woolrich competing at the Olympics, with London the first time women's boxing has featured. The World Boxing Association states that an amateur boxer must be 34 years or younger on December 2011 to get in the ring at the Olympics. Woolrich turns 34 this December.

While disappointed, Woolrich realises that at 25 she was a late starter in the sport. She has re-set her sights on doing well for New Zealand at the world championships. "It is a bummer, and if I had a choice I would carry on, but it is a case of a 'must' and not a 'want' to finish up. It is awesome that boxing is going to be there [2012 Olympics] as an exhibition sport. It would be nice to see a New Zealand representative in every weight division by then too."

Woolrich realises she will have to perform at her best to gain a spot. "It's certainly not going to be a holiday over there. When you're boxing you aren't on holiday, but maybe funds will allow me to stay on a few days after I'm finished."

Woolrich and her Auckland coach Cameron Todd have talked about going professional, which would allow her to carry on past the age limit currently squeezing her out of the amateur ranks. The self-confessed "nana of New Zealand boxing" travels to Auckland every fortnight to train with Todd. She says the travel is worth it, as her technique and discipline has tidied up tremendously.

Although boxing is a minority sport for women, Woolrich puts it in simple terms why she got in the ring. "Boxing chose me. I was a sparring partner for a friend and ever since I haven't been able to put the gloves down."

Despite her passion for the sport and her talent in the ring, come September, Woolrich's gloves will be either have to be hung up or given a hefty makeover, as turning professional won't come cheap.
Woolrich funds the sport herself through her job as a gym instructor and pool guard at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. She is currently looking for any type of sponsorship or donations to help get her to Bridgetown, Barbados.

"It has basically been all out of my own pocket through raffles and my job. The Polytech have been really good and Player in Bayfair has been fantastic."

Her brother has also been a huge help, fundraising through his bar Inbargo in Te Puke.

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