Olympic Boxer’s Insipration is his Baby Daughter
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US heavyweight Deontay Wilder is competing in his first Olympic Games in Beijing this week, and he says he owes it all to his baby daughter, Naieya.
Three-year-old Naieya was born with spina bifida. Her doctors said she would never walk. Deontay dropped out of college to work two jobs to pay for her medical care, and little Naieya has defied doctors by not just walking, but helping daddy with his training. “When we go to the gym and I stretch, she’s on the ground stretching with me” says Deontay.
What is just as amazing is that 22 year-old Deontay has only been boxing since 2005. After dropping out of college, in between driving a truck and working in a restaurant, he walked into a local boxing gym to learn the sport. The trainer soon realized that Deontay had potential. He knocked out his first three opponents in a row, went on to win a national championship, and just two years later, qualify for the Olympic Games.
Deontay says that his daughter’s strength and fighting spirit inspires him, together with the drive to provide for her future and medical care. “She’s all the reason why I’m here right now. Without her being born — me having her — I would not be boxing right now.”
Deontay’s first fight will be on Wednesday 13 August. Good luck Deontay!
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