Tina Rahimi

Opponents often don’t expect too much from Tina Rahimi, Australia’s first Muslim female Commonwealth Games boxer.

She enters the ring in immaculate make-up, hijab, long sleeves and tights – it’s not exactly what boxers are supposed to look like.

“They look at me like ‘Who’s this girl? She’s going to get bashed’, because I just look so different – I don’t look like a boxer,” says Tina.

It’s a dangerous conclusion to jump to.

“Once they see me fight and see that I can actually fight, they show their respect,” says Tina. “It feels amazing.”

Tina, a former make-up artist from western Sydney, took up boxing training with a friend in 2017 when they felt their fitness journey had stalled and they needed more motivation.

“I remember punching the bags for the first time and I was like, ‘Wow, this is such an amazing feeling’,” says Tina. “I fell in love.”

She had her first fight in 2018 and victory ensured she was hooked. By 2022, she had won the Australian featherweight title and qualified for the Commonwealth Games.

In Birmingham, she won through to a semi-final, where she lost to the eventual silver medallist and was awarded bronze.

Tina trains under Muhummad Alyatim at Brotherhood Boxn Club in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre. She also credits Floyd Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff Mayweather, for helping build her confidence in the ring after she had the opportunity to train with him in Las Vegas in 2020.

Tina claimed a Paris 2024 quota place with a unanimous points victory over Tongan Feofaaki Epenisa in the gold medal bout at the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in November 2023.

"I've finally qualified for Paris, I'm so amazed right now, I can't believe I've actually made it," she said.

"I never thought I'd actually come to this point, to be here right now is incredible."

Tina is an important role-model for the Muslim community and young girls and has created the Boxing With Tina Instagram account to encourage others to take up the sport.