Chloe Assad (16) started her kickboxing training during the hard lockdown of Covid in 2021.
Little did she know she would be making it to the world championships in England two years later.
“I saw a few videos of people kickboxing on Instagram and it instantly piqued my interest,” Chloe said.
“My uncle gave me a punching bag and after practicing on that for a while we discovered Triple Threat Dojo in Ruimsig and I started my professional training.”
Chloe spent about a year just training and learning techniques, after watching two fellow fighters spar in the ring, a spark ignited in her and she knew she wanted to compete.
“I started competing last year and I am having so much fun,” she added that she noticed early on that her passion for kickboxing was way bigger than she expected at first saying she is very disciplined with her training.
“I want to attend practice even if I feel sick or get hurt.”
Chloe, better known in the ring as Gypsy Beast, is a Grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Monument and hopes to take her kickboxing career to new heights when she graduates.
“I would love to continue my training after school and go into acting as well. The reason people call me Gypsy Beast in the ring is due to my love of flowy and loose-fitting clothes,” elaborated Chloe, also mentioning that she would love to travel the world.
“We’ll be competing in the world championships in August and my birthday falls right in the middle of that time [August 6], I am looking forward to our time there,” she added.
Chloe secured her place in the world champs by winning three gold medals in the South African National Championships earlier this year.