When Chelsey Heijnen was about to turn his rugby career into a boxing career, his coach advised him to continue playing rugby. He ignored this advice. Four weeks ago, his doctor said he had to stop boxing because of a persistent shoulder injury. He didn’t listen to that either.
Preliminary result? Reaching the semi-finals in Turkey in his first boxing match of the World Cup means he is guaranteed a bronze medal. The Algerian Imanse Khelif awaits the semifinals on Wednesday. By reaching the quarter-finals, Heijnen achieved the A status as the best athlete of NOC*NSF, the sports umbrella organization that financially supported the Olympic Games in Paris within two years.
“It’s especially fun,” says a 23-year-old Dutch woman from her hotel room in Istanbul. “Of course it’s great to come home with a medal after my first World Cup.”
Heijnen surprised himself too
With this he surprises not only the boxing world, but also himself. “Actually, I did not expect it myself,” he said after his quarterfinal victory over the Italian Assunta Canfora.
Chelsea Heijnen
Orange Photos
“I ran for three years with a shoulder injury,” says Heijnen. “Four weeks before this tournament my doctor said to me: Chelsey, maybe you should stop boxing.” Heijnen’s reaction to his doctor’s advice? “Not now. I’m really not giving up on this World Cup now.”
And it wasn’t the first time he’s resisted the advice. In 2015, he wanted to replace rugby with boxing. However, his trainer did not like it. “Keep playing rugby for the Dutch national team,” he advised. “Because with boxing you can box in the Netherlands and Germany, but it will not be international for him.”
pleasure
Nevertheless, Heijnen decided to go boxing. “So I’m going to box for fun,” he thought then. “So I never dared to imagine that anyway. I’ve always hoped that I could keep myself at that level in any sport. And if you can and can do that, that’s great.”
Watch in the video below how Chelsey Heijnen reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
His first World Cup appearance leaves you wanting more. “I don’t think it’s a chance,” said Heijnen after reaching the semi-finals. “But I also really need to improve. I am 23 years old. The girls I’ve met have a lot more experience and have participated in more World Cups than I do.”
At least the word “abandoned” isn’t in his vocabulary. “I’ve worked really hard to get on the podium with my coach, with a shoulder that may or may not come. We kept believing in it. We went on as two stubborn people.”
Source: NOS
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
