International Women’s Day at Titan

Athletes We Want to Talk About

To be an athlete, you need passion, drive, determination and skill.

This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating some women in contact sports who don’t just tick these boxes, but continue to inspire us all through their game.

Caroline Dubois

What do you need to know about Caroline Dubois?

Date of Birth 11/01/2001.

Caroline started boxing at the age of nine at the top-flight club where her older brother Daniel had trained. Rather than joining an all-girl amateur boxing club in her city, for the first few months at Repton Amateur Boxing Club, she pretended to be a boy named Colin.

After many determined years of training, Caroline’s strength and skill stood out and she began to get a name for herself. Caroline led an undefeated career as a junior and youth boxer, achieving title after title.
2016 European Junior Champion (54 kg)
2017 European Junior Champion (60 kg)
2018 English National Youth Champion (60kg)
2018 European Junior Champion (60 kg)
2018 Youth Olympic Games Champions
(Girls’ lightweight)

After winning gold at the Youth Olympics, BBC boxing commentator Mike Costello said: “I am having to slam on the brakes because I am tempted to call Caroline Dubois the best female boxer I have seen.”

She just continues to win, and win, and win again.

2018 World Women’s Youth Champion (60 kg)
2019 English National Youth Champion (60kg)
2019 European Women’s Youth Champion (60 kg)

In December 2019, Caroline was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, as of February 2020, she was unbeaten in forty fights and and after making a strong impression in her first few months in the GB Boxing squad she was selected to compete in the first Olympic qualifying event in London In March 2020.

Caroline unanimously defeated Ala Staradub of Belarus in her first bout as a senior, however she was unable to progress further due to Coronavirus restrictions. The Tokyo Olympics have postponed until July 2021, and Caroline has her sights set.

Caroline’s skill and unwavering determination has put her straight onto our list of admirable athletes, this #InternationalWomensDay.

Poppy and Bryony Cleall

Date of Birth 12/06/1992.

Now I’m very aware that having two athletes in one spot may seem somewhat of a cheat, however these twin players are absolutely smashing the field of Women’s Rugby.

The twins started playing at the age of six. One day, they were sitting around, waiting for their brother Josh to finish practice when the coach invited them into the game.

Both women have played for Bristol, both for Saracens, now Bryony is in the RFU Elite Player Squad for England and Poppy is one of the 28 female England RFU players with a permanent full-time contract. They trained together, for years competed against one another, and now play alongside one another for the Saracens Womens Squad.

With the #iCare movement, Poppy has been an outspoken, positive personality. She has challenged gender diversity, saying:

“We won’t be made to feel like we don’t exist. There’s 2.7 million of us”

Women’s rugby is quick and tenacious. These twins are strong, powerful and clever and both have experienced juggling a sporting career and a ‘day job.’ Before her contract with England’s Red Roses, Poppy worked as a prison officer meanwhile Bryony is the head of girls’ PE at the Harris City Academy in Crystal Palace.

We at titan absolutely salute these two powerhouses and give them our complete admiration today. #InternationalWomensDay. #iCare.

Susanna Townsend

Date of Birth 28/07/1989

When I think of Susannah Townsend I think of a sporting legend. An Olympian, a European Champion and a shining team player. Suzannah is one of the most dynamic outfield hockey players in the world. She has over 100 international caps and earned and an Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016.

Born in London with 3 brothers and 1 sister, Susannah picked up a hockey stick for the first time at the age of 13, having previously enjoyed every sport she’d tried and having a particular flare for tennis. She found her love for hockey grew as she realised she was a team player, rather than a solo athlete. “I wanted to be part of a team and I wanted to play a sport with my friends instead of being alone!”

So hockey it was to be! Susannah trained hard and although she admits it wasn’t always easy choosing to put training ahead of her social life; saying no to parties and not seeing her friends as much, these were sacrifices she knew would pay off. There are talented players all across the world, but those with determination enough to put training first are the athletes we remember.

Susannah is an inspiration to so many of us, and her continued determination and ever–increasing skill has led her to achieve this impressive list of international honours:

2011 EuroHockey Championships – Bronze
2013 World League Final – Bronze
2013 EuroHockey Championships – Silver
2014 Commonwealth Games – Silver
2015 EuroHockey Championships – Gold
2015 World League Semi Final – Gold
2016 Olympic Games – Gold

In the years since Rio, the midfielder has been plagued by injuries that led to a loss of confidence.

After Rio, she had a knee operation she had been putting off until after the games. Being sidelined for a year, she underwent physical rehabilitation for her knee, but was then unfortunate enough to obtain a severe ankle injury. She told BBC Radio Kent “It got to the point where I wasn’t enjoying myself as much as I should have and my performances slipped.”

She realised she was losing her love for the game and decided she needed to focus on having a more positive outlook, and through making the effort to bring herself back, she has become a stronger athlete than ever before, with her sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now set to take place this year.

Susannah’s determination towards the game since childhood had led her to be a world recognised player. She is an elite athlete and should absolutely be a women we shout about this #InternationalWomensDay.