(JUNE 3) Mandy Bujold is one of the best amateur boxers in recent years representing Canada at the 51kg division on the international stage. She has always been a fan of the sport and got into boxing when she moved to Kitchener, Ontario Canada. Her initial goal was to get in shape but met boxing coach Rick Cadilha from the Waterloo Regional Boxing Academy and was eventually compelled to compete. Cadilha has been Bujold’s coach since day one. Bujold stated that Cadilha “is a very good motivator and is always trying to push me to the next level. He continually pushes me with all the different aspects of training. Everything always seems to come together before my competitions.”

Finding sparring partners has been a problem for Bujold. Sometimes it is very easy to find sparring partners while other times it is extremely difficult. However when it becomes a problem Mandy will get together with other members of Ontario’s Provincial team and or Canada’s National team to spar because they are usually training for the same tournaments.

Bujold commented on her career highlights and accomplishments thus far; she stated the following: “Being involved in amateur boxing has given me many great opportunities through out the last couple years. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world and do something that I am passionate about. I have been on the Canadian National team for 4 years now, once as a junior and three times as a senior. In 2006, I won the Boxing Ontario female athlete of the year.

A definite highlight for me would be when I competed at my first Pan American Championships in Ecuador in the fall of 2007. It was a great experience and it was my first time to stand on the podium at an international event. Also in 2007, I was awarded Canadian rookie boxer of the year as it was my first year on the senior national team. "

In August 2008, I won the Ringside tournament held in Missouri, USA and in the same year claimed my second Pan American championship gold medal. So far in 2009, I won the Canadian National championships again which took place in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. I beat out Provincial champions from Nova Scotia, Quebec and New Brunswick. Next I competed at a local tournament called the Brampton Cup, however I only had one opponent to face who was from Ottawa, and her name was Linda Scotitdis. I won a clear victory on points and also won the best female boxer of the tournament award.

Next, I travelled to Portugal to compete against the National Champion Sandra Silva on national television and won the 4 round bout. Recently, I travelled to Istanbul Turkey, where our team competed in the Ahmet Comert Cup and won the bronze medal. When I came home I was nominated for the Kitchener and Waterloo annual Athlete of the Year award along with eight other great athletes from the area.

On May 13, I was named the Athlete of the Year winner. Some past recipients of this award include Lennox Lewis and Scott Stevens of the National Hockey League. Now I am preparing to go to St. Petersburg Russia, to compete at an international event that will take place from July7 to 14th.”

When asked on her opinion about women’s boxing on the international stage and the possibility of competing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London UK, Bujold stated: “I think women’s amateur boxing on the international level is doing very well. Women’s boxing should be included in the 2012 Olympics especially since the level of competition and ability of female boxing has grown and I think it would only be fair to let us compete at the biggest sporting event in the world.”

Bujold has no ambitions to turn pro as of yet because of her commitment to the amateur program and the hope of being in the Olympics representing Canada.

In closing, Bujold really wanted to thank her family, coach Cadilha and everyone who helps her train for local, national and international competitions.

In addition, Mandy stated that “So many people in my community have done so much for me and encourage me all the time. I would also like to say thank you to my sport therapist, massage therapist, sports psychologist, training partners and all my sponsors, as well as all of the people who have supported me up to this point in my boxing career.”

I would like to thank Mandy for taking time out of her busy schedule for this interview and wish her all the best.