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Kal Sajad
BBC Sport journalist
The iconic Royal Albert Hall has hosted pugilism for over a century, welcomed key political figures and showcased musical superstars.
On Friday evening, a women’s bout headlined the regal venue for the first time. About 4, 000 fans witnessed Lauren Price dominate trailblazer Natasha Jonas in the main event of an all-female card.
In the chief support, Caroline Dubois outpointed Bo Mi Re Shin in an entertaining battle. The self-assured world champion has the potential to make waves – in the ring and commercially – for years to come.
Karen Artingsall became British champion by beating Raven Chapman in a featherweight contest that shows a gradual deepening of the depth of women’s boxing, which has historically been lacking.
On the surface, the event – a day before International Women’s Day – was a success and provides a launchpad for women’s boxing in Britain to progress.
But we have been here before.
Former world champion Hannah Rankin feels women’s boxing failed to capitalise on the momentum created by Savannah Marshall v Claressa Shields in October 2022, when an all-women card packed out the O2 Arena.
“There was a real opportunity there but when big-time boxing moved to Saudi Arabia, it slowed down the progression and whole trajectory of women’s boxing”, she says.
Saudi Arabia continues to host high-profile men’s bouts as women’s boxing has generally been overlooked.
I’m not a fan of all-female cards – Rankin
Pioneer of women’s boxing Jane Couch, TV presenter Stacey Dooley and several female athletes packed out the majestic Kensington venue.
The Shields-Marshall card, albeit nearly two-and-a-half years ago, reportedly reached a peak audience of one million viewers.
“This might be controversial, but I’m just not a fan]of all-female cards] and I never have been”, Scotland’s Rankin says.
She feels mixed-gender cards rather than segregating the two codes will attract more interest.
“I think if promoters are smart, they will start pushing women from where they’re from”, Rankin adds.
Price has competed in Wales just once in nine pro bouts while London’s highly talented IBF super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney’s past two fights have taken place on undercards in Manchester and Nottingham.
“Can Ellie be given an opportunity to sell out a smaller venue in London”? says Rankin.
“If women aren’t getting the opportunities in Saudi, then let us be the champions at home and bring the crowds at home to watch.
Onus on fighters to self-promote better
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Shields – the self-proclaimed ‘ Greatest Woman of All Time ‘ – played up to the American villain role against Marshall in a fight which stemmed from an amateur rivalry.
There was no such animosity between Jonas and Price in a relatively subdued fight week.
” Boxing is 50% talent and 50% entertainment, “Rankin says.
” Female fighters have to take some ownership and start promoting themselves.
“Go work in your community, be active on social media, speak up in press conferences – however you want to sell yourself”.
Londoner Dubois is one of a few female fighters beginning to showcase the art of self-promotion, though.
“How audacious that she thinks she can beat me”? Dubois said at Wednesday’s news conference, despite South Korean Shin saying nothing to prompt such an impassioned response.
Dubois is a “breath of fresh air”, according to Rankin, and the 25-year-old appears to understand the importance of putting on a show – even if it might be to her detriment.
British title fights, three-minute rounds &, UFC’s White
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British title fights are a mainstay in the men’s code, producing countless classics including Anthony Joshua’s showdown with Dillian Whyte in 2015.
But they were only introduced in women’s boxing in 2023, when Price beat Kirstie Bavington to become the inaugural champion.
“The British title can create more domestic dust-ups before we get onto the world level”, Rankin says.
“For men, it’s revered in every gym. Every guy would talk about winning the British title and it just isolated us a little bit”.
The conversation over whether females should adopt three-minute rounds like their male counterparts is one that splits opinion.
But while those format changes may come with time, the future of women’s boxing rests on the ever-evolving boxing landscape.
UFC president Dana White has teamed up with Saudi organisers to create a new boxing league, which Rankin hopes can benefit female boxing.
There is clearly work to be done, yet it simply cannot be ignored that women’s boxing was banned until 1998 in the United Kingdom and 2001 in Ireland.
And it has been less than a decade since Taylor’s professional debut took it into the mainstream.
Danny Jones is probably regretting his awkward joke about “leaving” his wife of 10 years, Georgia Horsley, days before he was filmed kissing Maura Higgins at a boozy BRITs afterparty. The 38-year-old McFly singer – who has been married to the former Miss England model for a decade – appeared to lock lips with Love Islander Maura, 34, and a source tells us that, even if it was all very innocent, it’s a “slap in the face” for his wife.
“Danny and Maura insist it was totally innocent and nothing meaningful”, the source claimed. “They got on really well in the jungle and it’s just foolish that they let themselves get caught up in something after a big party night, especially so publicly”. Danny and Maura were both on the latest series of I’m A Celebrity…, which Danny won. Maura was dating fellow reality star Pete Wicks at the time.
The couple have been married for a decade and share son Cooper, seven (georgia Horsley/instagram)
Maura on the night of the BRITs (Getty Images)
Maura and Pete split earlier this year and, when she was asked about Pete’s whereabouts on Valentine’s Day, Maura responded, “Dunno, probably cheating”. A source told OK! this week that former TOWIE star Pete was “pleased” to be out of the situation, and it has reinforced to him that the pair weren’t meant to be.
“This sort of attention is exactly what Pete doesn’t want”, they claimed. “He’s seen this sort of media circus happen when he was on TOWIE and it’s not the sort of relationship he wants. It’s a shame because it will probably bring his guard back up and he just wants to find someone he can genuinely love”.
Meanwhile, Georgia, Danny and Maura have all remained silent on their socials about the BRITs night, but Georgia’s appearance at The Baby Show at Excel London on Saturday was reportedly cancelled at the last minute.
Georgia reportedly cancelled a public appearance after the footage emerged (Getty Images for the NTA’s)
At the time of going to press, Maura had not made any statement about the video (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Uni)
Relationship guru Tina Wilson says the now-viral video is likely to have hit Georgia hard, especially as she’s also juggling caring for their young son, Cooper, seven. “Seeing all this, and the gossip and speculation it’s led to, will be emotionally shattering for Georgia”, says Tina. “It’s a horrible situation to deal with.
” No matter how trusting she might be in their marriage, or how innocent the kiss, she won’t be able to ignore the video, and it will likely be completely anxiety-inducing for her. She’ll likely be feeling very vulnerable and exposed as she knows people will be watching and waiting for her reaction. It will send her mind into hurt and panic as to what is happening in her life and marriage. “
Last year, Georgia opened up to OK! about her marriage to Danny – who was just 17 years old when he joined Harry Judd, Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter in McFly – saying good communication and time apart had been key to their 15-year relationship.
Georgia held the fort while he was in the jungle (James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
” We’ve always said that – for as long as we’ve been together, we’ve enjoyed our separate times, because when we reunite it’s even nicer, “she said”. Communication is key, as well. It’s something we had to relearn after having a baby, or you just have constant resentment at each other for not doing enough, even if you both are. In the end, it all comes together if you keep talking. “
The couple met in 2009. Danny proposed four years later on holiday in Cyprus, and they tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony in Georgia’s hometown in North Yorkshire.
Our source says Danny’s behaviour was a” slap in the face for Georgia”, whose own career has taken a backseat to Danny’s. When he was in the jungle, she broke down in tears saying her emotions had” come to a head “as she juggled a house move, solo parenting and work. She’s been an incredible partner to him so this feels very unfair”, our source said. “But Georgia is a strong woman, she won’t let it ruin what they have”.
In a recent episode of the Parenting Hell podcast, Danny joked to hosts Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe about going into the jungle, “I left my wife to move house all by herself. I’m surprised she’s still with me, to be honest”.
While social media sleuths scoured footage of Maura and Danny in the jungle looking for signs of chemistry, many fans have expressed concern. One wrote, “This is awful, his poor wife having to see this plastered over social media”. Another commented, “If this is true, then I feel sorry for his wife and disappointed in him”.
Viewers have been looking for signs of chemistry in the jungle between Maura and Danny (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Comedian Katherine Ryan took a swipe at Danny on TikTok, saying, “Oh my God, he wouldn’t do that, he couldn’t do that. I know that really looks like what I’m seeing with my own eyes in the video, but he just wouldn’t do that”, adding, “They do that. They leave the house for three minutes to get milk and forget they have a whole family. They do that”.
Maura’s ex, Love Islander Chris Hughes, made a cheeky post, with a photo of himself watching Entourage captioned, “I wasn’t at the BRITs… And I wasn’t kissing anyone”.
Tina, founder of the Wingman dating app, says there’s no “correct” way for Georgia to feel right now, but she urges all her clients to “honour any and all of their feelings”. She adds, “If a couple can be open with each other and honour their truth, they have the best chance of pushing through troubles together”.
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Abbey Clancy is battling a “shocking” case of the flu when OK! dials in for an exclusive chat with the model, presenter and podcast host. “I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself”, she sniffs, adding that many of their party from the family’s recent skiing trip to Switzerland, with friends including Ashley Cole and his wife Sharon Canu, were also struck down with the bug. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old is excited to tell us all about her new spring edit for F&, F, also opening up about her marriage to former Premier League football star Peter Crouch, why she adores working with him on their hit podcast, and the secret to their happy union.
Abbey and her family – towering former England striker Peter, 44, and their four children – spent the recent half-term holiday on the slopes with friends. With her trademark dry wit, especially when it comes to her 6ft 7in husband, the Liverpudlian star joked on Instagram that Peter’s skiing skills were so appalling he spent “most of his time on top of another woman” – after he repeatedly fell over on their petite skiing instructor.
Abbey admits Pete’s a ‘ useless ‘ nurse when she’s ill – but otherwise they’re in a ‘ very happy moment ‘ (Getty Images)
The model and presenter says she and Peter are in their ‘ Western era ‘
“I saw the girl in question at the resort at one point, and she was like, ‘ Oh my God, I’m getting so much stick from my friends after that comment! ‘” laughs Abbey. “Yeah, Pete was hilarious. It was a fab holiday. So good, I hardly got a single picture of myself – it looks like I wasn’t even there”!
The couple’s banter is top notch, and it’s clear that their 14-year marriage is rock solid (as she reminds us, they may have been married for 14 years this June, but they’ve actually been together almost 20 years). One of the golden couples of football, they renewed their vows during a stunning ceremony in the Maldives in December 2022, and Abbey believes they’ve lasted the course because, although they may both have changed a lot since their wedding day, crucially, they’ve evolved together and not apart.
“We’ve totally grown together over the years”, she says. “When we look back at our wedding day, some of the choices we’ve made, some things we’ve done in the past, we’re like, ‘ Bloody hell, who were we then?! ‘ But today? We’re still in sync. We’ve got the same interests and the same things make us laugh. It’s a really happy time for us at the moment”.
So how does a couple who’ve been together for nearly two decades keep that spark alive? There’s no easy answer, admits Abbey, but she thinks it helps that the pair genuinely love spending any spare minute they have in each other’s company.
“We honestly do everything together, except work”, she says. “Actually, even work, because we have our podcast. I don’t need ‘ space ‘ from Peter – unless I’m ill, like I am at the minute, because he’s a c**p nurse and I want him to go away! He’s useless then. We love hanging out together with our friends, going on date nights. Whatever we’re doing, we always have a laugh. I think that’s really helped us”.
Abbey’s daughters regularly raid her wardrobe these days
That the pair enjoy a laugh together is crystal clear to anyone who has listened to their hit podcast, The Therapy Crouch. In the show, the pair open up about everything from parenting disasters to their sex life. “The thing is, with the podcast, we film it at home with my brother and my cousin, so it feels like we’re just having a chat”, Abbey reveals. “We genuinely forget it’s going out to millions of people. Then suddenly I’m on the front of a magazine, and I’m thinking”, Oh my God, did I actually say that?! “
Does the mum-of-four ever worry that one day she will say something she shouldn’t”? Yes, all the time! “Abbey says – but apparently not enough to go back and listen to an episode to approve it before it goes out to the masses”. But you know what? It’s important for us to be authentic… to be real, “she explains”. It’s quite a special thing, actually, to have dedicated time to sit down with your husband and talk about relationships, memories, things you’ve done with the kids. We love it. “
Abbey and Peter’s four children are all at very different stages in their young lives. There’s Sophia, who turns 14 this week, Liberty, nine, Johnny, seven, and five-year-old Jack. When it comes to parenting, says Abbey, Mum and Dad have very distinct roles”. Pete’s good cop and I’m bad cop, “she reveals”. I’m the one going, ‘ Do your homework, eat your veg, ‘ and Pete’s like, ‘ Let’s play, kids! ‘ which can be annoying but… it works.
“Our kids are very good, though. They’ve all got distinct personalities but they’re all easy-going. That’s not to say family life isn’t chaotic – it’s totally chaotic! There’s absolutely nothing chilled about the Crouch household, but we wouldn’t have it any other way”.
Family life is ‘ chaotic ‘ but she wouldn’t have it any other way, says Abbey (Will Ireland/PinPep)
Abbey and Peter tied the knot 14 years ago this June (PA)
The doting mum also admits that, having dreamed about finding some precious ‘ me ‘ time when her children were younger, she misses them now they’re all of school age and out of the door in the morning – albeit to four different schools, making drop-offs and pick-ups an interesting endeavour. “I do miss them running about the place”, Abbey reflects. “We love everything about family life. I mean, my kids are not happy unless they’re three inches away from me – even Sophia, my eldest – and I really hope that continues”.
Social media is one thing Abbey worries about when it comes to her brood, especially with teenager Sophia. “I’d have them on zero screen time if I could, but that’s unrealistic”, she admits. “You just have to do whatever you can to keep your kids safe. We’re very open with our kids. We all talk about everything.
” Sophia’s a teenager now, and she can’t be the only one at school without a phone. But she plays two or three hours of tennis a day, so she’s not on her phone much. She’s an incredible tennis player. I’m not forcing her, she loves it. She’s a girl on a mission. “
As for her own endeavours, Abbey is eager to chat about the gorgeous new clothing range she has created for F&, F, joking that she’s” channelling her Western era”. Abbey and Peter entertained fans in November when they posed in Wild West costumes to promote The Therapy Crouch (both of them are” obsessed “with the hit neo-Western series Yellowstone).
The couple drove fans wild with a Yellowstone-inspired skit for their podcast
The 39-year-old has continued the theme for her F&, F collection
” Think Isabel Marant, double denim, those incredible studded belts that were big in the 90s, long skirts. We’re going back in time, “Abbey says”. There’s a lot of linen, beautiful trench coats, Miu Miu-esque cargo jackets. It’s a fabulous collection, and every single piece is one I want to wear, and do wear.
“It’s affordable, too. When you’re busy and you’ve got kids, you’re often last on the list, aren’t you? But if you can go and do your food shop and grab an amazing outfit at the same time, which is great quality, on-trend and makes you feel fantastic, it’s a win-win”.
As for Abbey’s own style, she says it has evolved over the years. “There aren’t quite as many leather hot pants in my wardrobe as there used to be”, she laughs. “But I still have eclectic taste. I’m trying to train myself to stop buying random miniskirts that just stay in the wardrobe forever, and instead focus on key pieces”. These days, she says, it’s all about “feeling comfy but looking cool”. She reveals, “My wardrobe is full of investment pieces. Nice jackets, jeans, bags and shoes, which I mix and match”.
Growing daughters Sophia and Liberty are now at the perfect age to raid their stylish mum’s wardrobe. “My kids take everything from me”! Abbey exclaims. “My lip gloss disappears. My new Miu Miu boots that I’ve just bought now live in Sophia’s wardrobe. She steals everything. She’s got a good eye, I have to say. I’ve still got all my Isabel Marant stuff from years ago, and she’s wearing it all now. Boho chic is back”.
Abbey is Bad Cop and Peter Good Cop when it comes to their brood
It’s not just the kids who raid Abbey’s stash of goodies – Peter regularly dips in and out of his wife’s collection of beauty products. “He’s an absolute nightmare”, she says. “I buy myself a special shampoo that costs a fortune for dyed blonde hair, and he’s finished it after two washes. The cheek”!
Abbey will turn 40 next January, and she looks incredible. When asked what her secret is, she says it’s “everything in moderation”. She adds that although she tries to generally eat well – and keeps fit with Pilates classes with the school mums and lots of horse riding – she’ll also enjoy a day off from worrying about what she eats or how much exercise she’s doing.
“My perfect cheat night would be red wine, cheese and bread. Give me all the carbs”! she laughs. “I must have eaten at least three tonnes of cheese while we were in Switzerland, it was ridiculous”.
As for her idea of the perfect weekend, it’s with Peter and the kids in the English countryside. “A trip to the country with some horse riding, a big Sunday roast in a cosy pub, and some spa time”, she says. “Then, after the kids go to bed, a glass of wine and a movie with Peter. That’s heaven to me”.
Abbey Clancy’s Top Spring Picks are now available to buy in the majority of larger Tesco stores.
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Tropical Cyclone Alfred has weakened into a tropical low weather system but officials warned that the storm can still bring severe winds and flooding to the eastern coast of Australia.
The cyclone, which weakened early on Saturday, crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland state overnight and is now heading towards the mainland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“Heavy-to-locally intense rainfall leading to flash and riverine flooding now becomes the major concern as the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves inland”, Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy said.
Alfred has blacked out more than a quarter of a million homes and businesses while prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people. No deaths have been reported so far but authorities have urged residents to stay indoors.
Young men stand behind a wall as they play in record-breaking waves caused by the outer fringe of Tropical Cyclone Alfred at Point Danger in Coolangatta on March 7, 2025]David Gray/AFP]
“The impacts are already being felt, and there is worse to come in the hours ahead”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a news conference from the National Situation Room in Canberra.
It had been expected to become the first cyclone to cross the east Australian coast near the Queensland state capital of Brisbane since 1974.
Cyclones are common in Queensland’s tropical north but rare in the state’s temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales state.
Thousands without power
Brisbane Airport remains shut and the city has suspended public transport. More than 1, 000 schools in southeast Queensland and 280 in northern New South Wales (NSW) have been closed.
More than 330, 000 homes and businesses lost power on both sides of the border between NSW and Queensland, a large proportion of them in Gold Coast, which recorded the strongest gusts of 107km/h (66mph) on Friday night.
Of those, 291, 000 premises were in Queensland, including 131, 000 at Gold Coast, officials said. Another 45, 000 were without power in New South Wales.
Workers fix electricity wires damaged due to strong winds]David Gray/AFP]
Power lines, homes and cars were damaged by falling trees across the region over Friday night.
One man was still missing after his four-wheel drive vehicle was swept off a bridge into a rain-swollen river the previous day in northern New South Wales.
It is an important period for Liverpool as they look to bounce back in the Women’s Super League and climb up the table under interim manager Amber Whiteley.
The former assistant boss, who took over from Matt Beard when he was sacked last week, has fresh ideas and is ready to showcase her ability as a coach.
She has a Women’s FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal to navigate on Sunday (14: 30 GMT kick-off), before she attempts to lead Liverpool back towards the top in the league.
Having defied the odds to finish fourth last season, Liverpool have struggled for consistency this year, while clubs around them continue to invest and strengthen.
‘ You have to stand up ‘ – What could happen next?
Beard enjoyed huge success with Liverpool across two spells with the club – first winning back-to-back WSL titles, before overseeing their promotion from the second tier in 2022.
But with Liverpool sitting seventh and nine points above bottom side Crystal Palace, the club made the bold decision to part ways last week.
Liverpool felt they could not afford to stagnate with clubs in the WSL growing ever-stronger and Whiteley got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 victory over Palace.
She admits it is now an “important period” for Liverpool as they approach a crossroads, uncertain on what the future will be.
“We have been a little bit stop-start up until now. It’s important for us to build some consistency and finish the season strongly”, said Whiteley.
“It’s important to give us a platform to work on. It’s also important for the fans. We want to produce football that they enjoy watching and want to get behind.
” I think we can do that in the next couple of months. There is lots to play for. “
Liverpool’s recruitment process is already under way as they look to appoint a permanent manager but Whiteley said she will” throw her name in the hat”.
She has climbed up the ranks at Liverpool and was previously the head coach of the under-21s, before her first interim spell in charge in 2021.
She expects to be in temporary charge again until the end of the season but could Whiteley follow in the footsteps of Sunday’s opponent Renee Slegers, who proved her worth in an interim spell at Arsenal before being offered the permanent job?
” It’s definitely a role I’m interested in and will put in for. But that recruitment process goes to one side and I have to focus on the day-to-day, “said Whiteley.
” From my interim period previously, the biggest thing I took away was that I was capable of doing the job.
“I am in a far better position having had the time with Matt]Beard] and working under him.
‘ A completely different way of doing things ‘
Getty Images
Liverpool feel they are in safe hands with Whiteley.
She stabilised the club through a difficult period in the Championship during her first interim spell, helping the team to a third-place finish by winning five of her nine league games in charge.
She has developed massively as a coach since then and last month spent time with the Republic of Ireland alongside former WSL manager Carla Ward – a move supported by the club – having also been mentored by Beard over recent years.
Composed in the dugout and quietly confident, she strikes a contrasting profile to former manager Beard, who was animated and demanded intensity.
” I don’t think I could have been put with anyone more different to me. It’s made me be a lot more open-minded, that’s for sure, “said Whiteley.
” I have seen a completely different way of doing things which has been great. Matt is very tactically astute, very flexible in his approach. “
Whiteley’s approach, she described, will be” more measured “against Arsenal but she hopes to bring out Liverpool’s attacking threats going forward.
Asked what she could personally bring to the table during this period, Whiteley added:” I think I am a strong leader, very self-aware and very reflective.
“I probably listen more than what I speak – but when I do speak, I give it some real thought and consideration.
Success in shooting requires steady hands, steely focus and the ability to block out all external distractions – but what about internal ones?
For two-time English champion Ruth Mwandumba we are not talking about feeling peckish, or a little poorly, rather pregnancy and the prospect of being kicked by not only one or two feet at a time, but potentially four, and as many arms.
“Twins, yeah, a massive shock”, said the smiling GB athlete, who is competing at the European Rifle Shooting Championships while six months pregnant.
“It’s definitely a strange one]to compete] and not a normal thing people do!
” I’ve had some rough training sessions ahead of the Europeans and some days where every shot felt like I was climbing Mount Everest because I was in so much pain and doubt was creeping into my mind.
‘ I dreamt I was having twins ‘
Mwandumba confesses that little can prepare you for the news that “you have two in there” but, on reflection, she feels her mind may have been preparing her in the days ahead of the first scan.
“Weirdly, I had a dream that the sonographer found more than one baby, so even though it was a surprise, I feel my body trying to warn me, so I feel like part of me knew deep down, inside, like intuition,” she told BBC Sport.
When prompted to reflect on her use of the word ‘ dream ‘ rather than ‘ nightmare’, she clarifies, while laughing, “No actually you’re right, it was a nightmare!
” I woke up going, ‘ that can’t be happening, it’s not happening, right? ‘ “
The 29-year-old has also endured a tricky pregnancy, with nausea and vomiting extending into her second trimester.
” The whole pregnancy in general was a bit of a shock because I struggle quite badly with endometriosis, “she revealed.
” It took four years of experiencing extreme pelvic pain, as well as really, really intense periods, before I was first officially diagnosed in 2017 and I’ve had two surgeries since. “
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus, and can cause infertility.
She had” difficult conversations “with healthcare providers who warned her she might not be able to conceive naturally.
” It was almost scary to be discussing the possibility, at the age of 22-23, that I might not be able to have kids in the future.
“So, to have had those conversations and then all of a sudden be expecting twins, never mind just one, was a huge shock”, said Mwandumba, who thought she might need IVF but ultimately did not require it.
Mums support and LA 2028 in sight
UK Sport recently released enhanced pregnancy guidance, pledging to “increase and improve support” for female athletes.
Mwandumba’s British team-mate Amber Rutter was one of the first to receive this additional assistance in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she ultimately won silver, three months after becoming a mother.
“British Shooting have been so supportive from the beginning and I think the experience with Amber before the Olympics means they can use a lot of the same support and resources”, said Mwandumba, who was a travelling reserve for the Paris 2024 Games.
While optimistic about the future, one area of concern is becoming a parent and bringing black children into the world.
The shooter, who has Malawian heritage, has been a prominent figure in the push for greater diversity in the sport, launching the #TargetChange initiative in 2022, while she has also previously spoken about her own concerns around racism in the UK.
“I think we’re still very much in a scary world, and it definitely is something that scares me”, she said.
“Change might be slow, but it is happening and I’ll always be open with them about how they might be viewed or how they might approach certain situations, but hopefully by the time they are teenagers, things will be a bit different”.
Well before her children reach their teen years though, Mwandumba is hoping to not only return to the sport, but become an Olympian.
She was the reserve to Seonaid McIntosh in the 10m air rifle event at the 2024 Games and has set her sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“Once upon a time, I felt as though pregnancy within elite sport automatically meant retirement, and obviously we’re at a point now where that’s not the case”, said Mwandumba.
“So many people have been successful at their sport, gotten pregnant, had a family, then come back and have still managed to be just as successful, if not more so and I think that’s so inspiring to those of us who are going through the journey.
” It’s definitely motivated me to because my plan is to come back and still hopefully aim for those major competitions, with the Olympics the long-term goal.
