Lyfta storyworld: Boxing Clever - Uganda

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Catherine a.k.a ‘The Silent Beast’ is the first female Ugandan boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old rising star shares her story of hope, resilience and determination, as she boxes her way to the top from humble beginnings. Catherine describes how she realised her dream and overcame the odds, overcoming disbelief from her father and breaking down gender stereotypes to succeed as a female in a male-dominated sport.
Trailer to storyworld Boxing Clever

The Silent Beast

Catherine in storyworld Boxing Clever
Catherine in storyworld Boxing Clever
Catherine is from Kampala, a vast, busy, sprawling city in Uganda with heavy traffic and high-rise apartment blocks.This young Ugandan woman has faced many challenges to pursue her passion for boxing. Known as "The Silent Beast", Catherine is quiet when you meet her but when she steps into the boxing ring she becomes a different person.
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"A female boxer is unique so I give it all that I can."

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CATHERINE
IN BOXING CLEVER

Challenging stereotypes

Catherine boxing with her coach
Catherine boxing with her coach
Catherine's interest in boxing began at school. Her father was dismissive of her interest in what he described as a "male sport". He was worried that nobody would marry his daughter. Although Catherine was angry at her father and thought of giving up, she kept on pursuing her dream with encouragement from her manager who "kept on giving her hope".
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"There is nothing that a male can do, that we can't do."

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CATHERINE
IN BOXING CLEVER

Fighting for what you believe in

Catherine and her coach
Catherine and her coach
This is a story of determination and fighting against the odds. When Catherine won her first international fight at the age of 20 she qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. This was a huge achievement and she began to receive worldwide coverage after qualifying as Uganda's first female boxer.
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"And when you have a dream make sure that you do everything that you are supposed to do so that you really stick to that dream."

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CATHERINE
IN BOXING CLEVER

Family relationships

Catherine and her mother
Catherine and her mother
Catherine and her father have now resolved their differences and joke about the time when he told her not to box. It was his friends that encouraged him to "let her be" and pursue her talents.
Now that Catherine has proved that she is serious about boxing, her father not only supports her but has also started to gain a love for the sport and even encourages her to box more.
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"Yes, I was really worried. So that is why I had to tell you to leave boxing."

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CATHERINE's FATHER
IN BOXING CLEVER

The future

Catherine looking out over her city
Catherine looking out over her city
Catherine has big plans for the future. With the Commonwealth Games, the All-Africa games and the next Olympics, Catherine is more determined than ever to pursue her dreams.

Boxing Clever - at a glance

Rich Media Article in Boxing Clever storyworld
Rich Media Article in Boxing Clever storyworld
  • A powerful short documentary film about Catherine.
  • 3 interactive 360° spaces includingWatch Catherine get her hair done, watch Catherine teach boxing, Watch Catherine train
  • Rich media articles covering:
    • Sport: Boxing
  • Lesson and assembly plans to be included with this storyworld:

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