Mexican American boxer Jajaira Gonzalez will be competing in her first Olympics.
The Mexican American boxer is punching her way to the top to bring home a medal from the Paris Olympics.📺 Los Angeles news 24/7: Watch NBC4 free wherever you are
“I remember telling boxing’s for boys. I don’t want to box. Girls don’t fight,” she recalled.At age 17, she dominated the competition at the Youth Olympics. But after reaching the top of her game, it all came crashing down. She lost her drive, and she began losing fights against boxers she had beaten before.
At age 19, she left USA boxing and signed up for the U.S. Army. She tried to join the Army’s boxing program, but soon she became depressed and completely quit the sport.Her spark came back when she was out of the service, trying to make ends meet. “I was teaching people how to kickbox. I don’t even kick box. I just got whatever job I could get,” she recalled.It didn’t take long for her to fight her way back to the top and punch her ticket to Paris. She even got a tattoo, featuring the Olympic rings and the Eiffel Tower. “My dad really is the one that made me and built me,”she said.“The ultimate goal that's always been to get an Olympic gold medal. I think that's when I'll really sit down like, ‘I'm proud of you.
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