Lauren Camilleri is an elite amateur boxer with a dream to go to the Olympics. She
competes in the flyweight division (51kg) where she has won multiple Victorian titles and
was ranked 2 in Australia in 2018. Lauren began boxing in 2011 and has represented
Australia twice at the World Boxing Championships. Between training and work Lauren is
studying to become a teacher. In her spare time (there’s not much of it) Lauren loves walking
her dog and being outdoors. #Tokyo2020

During my boxing career I have had many highs and lows.
In 2017 I competed in the Super Quattro competition in Queensland. The event included the
best 4 Australian fighters in my division and consisted of three guaranteed fights, with the
two boxers who won the most fights competing in the final. I won all three guaranteed fights
and went on to win the tournament, and my first ever belt (there are not many belts in
amateur boxing). It was the first time I had ever fought four fights consecutively. The event
tested me physically, mentally and emotionally as each day I had to back up my
performance. It was such a high to fight four days in a row, against high quality opponents,
and prove to myself my ability and determination as an athlete.

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When I qualified for my first world championships, in 2014, I had only had 10 fights. The
qualifying tournament was held at the AIS in Canberra. This event was the first big event I
had competed in. I won two fights, qualifying me for the women’s world championships in the
48kg weight category and to top it off I also won best boxer of the tournament. This was a
really big high for me as I had always dreamt of representing Australia, and now I was able
to make that dream a reality.

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During 2017 I had been training for and expecting to win the Commonwealth Games
selection event. I did not win the tournament, and this came as a real blow. The loss made
me realise that I really need to work on my mental wellbeing while I am boxing because this
was the missing link to my game. Overcoming this challenge has had huge benefits for me in
and out of the ring, and I now feel more on top of my game than I ever have before.