Colombian-born Cecilia Breakhus is the world champion of welterweight boxing and a knock-out success in Europe.
Cecilia was adopted at the age of three and raised in Norway, which also happens to be one of the few countries — along with Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Iceland — that has banned the sport for being too dangerous. It is not the only thing which has made her choice of career so improbable.
“My mum is a university professor and my dad works at a consulting firm. They always wanted me to devote myself to study,” said Cecilia.
Cecilia began kick boxing at the age of 13. By 2007 she had won almost every major tournament on the European circuit, and needed a new challenge. Since boxing is banned in Norway, she decided to move to Germany to begin her boxing career, after achieving everything she could in the kick boxing sphere.
“Boxing is very difficult to learn because you must know your body, and have complete control over it…it is like chess, you must be conscious of every movement,” said Cecilia.