Pride of Guernsey: Mandy Hobart
MANDY HOBART has been nominated for the Diversity and Inclusion award, sponsored by the Insurance Corporation.
‘I would like to nominate my boxing coach, Mandy, who plays a big part in my boxing journey. I have a visual impairment and really wanted to do boxing so my mum contacted Mandy to see if I could start some sessions at the boxing club,’ said her nominator Reece Knight, 15.
‘Mandy supports me every step of the way. She has taught me the basics of boxing and strategy but most importantly she helped me gain resilience. Since I have started boxing I feel really good about myself, and a lot of that is down to Mandy with the support she has given me.’
Mandy has been coaching boxing for more than a decade and is currently the boxing development officer at the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club.
‘Over the years the club has become very adaptive, we have fantastic coaches. It’s about being welcoming – any sport can be inclusive, so we’ve learned to adapt,’ she said.
Mandy said that the most rewarding thing about coaching boxing was ‘working with individuals who are struggling with different things in life. When they realise they can do it, and they get that sense of achievement, it’s amazing.’
