Te Mania Shelford

Te Mania is an 18-year-old student of Melville High School that will be competing in Boxing at the Buenos Aires 2018 Olympic Youth Games.
 
Career Highlights: 2017 New Zealand National Champion, 2017 New Zealand and Australian Golden Gloves Champion, 2017 Central North Island Championship.
 
How I got into boxing? My Papa (Grandfather) saw Nabby's Boxing Gym downstairs from my Nana's work, he thought of me and encouraged me to box.
 
What I love about boxing? I love everything about boxing, the hard trainings, meeting new people and making friends, winning titles, having the opportunity to travel the world and fighting other boxers with different styles - which is a really good experience for me. I also love the fact that this sport could give me a future career.
 
What inspires me? My family and friends inspire me. I'm also very competitive, so I thought boxing would be a perfect match for me. My uncle Angus Shelford also boxed at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for New Zealand. He inspired me by not giving up and finishing his fight despite having a broken wrist. 
 
What I'm hoping to get out of the Youth Olympic Games? A gold medal of course, but most of all win or lose, I'm hoping to make my family, friends, team and New Zealand proud! I'm also hoping to inspire young women and men to work hard and follow their dreams.