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Boxing teen beat panic attacks to lift major title

Juliette ParkinIn Brighton and Hove
Juliette Parkin/BBC A 19 year-old woman is standing next to a boxing ring. She is wearing black boxing gloves which she is holding up close to her face. She has light brown hair tied back and is wearing a navy T-shirt. Other poeple are training in the ring behind her.Juliette Parkin/BBC
Isabel Mitchell trains at the Brighton and Hove Boxing Gym

A 19 year-old from Hastings has said she feels a "responsibility" to help other women get into boxing after overcoming mental health struggles to lift a major title.

Isabel Mitchell, who trains at the Brighton and Hove Boxing Gym, started at the age of 10 after something in her "just clicked" when she watched her brother box.

The teen boxer, who said she used to be "super shy and introverted", has struggled with panic attacks in the ring.

Mitchell said: "I'd have to lie down on the floor in the changing rooms for 20 minutes to try to calm down and stop crying."

She added: "Boxing gave me a lot of confidence to be a person and communicate with other people normally without being afraid."

Isabel Mitchell Two people are posing in a boxing stance in front of a boxing ring at a competition. The woman is wearing a blue boxing vest and white shorts with the name Izzy on the front. She has a gold medal aroud her neck and is smiling. Her coach is standing next to her wearing a red T-shirt. He has his right fist clenched like a boxer and is smiling. Isabel Mitchell
Mitchell won the Golden Girl Boxing Championships in Sweden

Mitchell's talent saw her head to Boras, Sweden, in February, to compete alongside 500 other female amateur boxers in the Golden Girl Championships.

The teen boxer said she was "overwhelmed with joy" after emerging victorious.

She has also represented England and, in November 2025, won the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs Boxing Championships.

Mitchell is sharing her story as part of Brighton & Hove City Council's (BHCC) Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign, which aims to increase female participation and celebrate achievement.

"There are so many women out there now that are so visible compared to before, and that now helps someone like me have something to aspire to," she said.

The council said its 2023 Safe and Well at School Survey found only 15% of secondary-school-age girls had done an hour of physical activity every day in the past week, compared with 27% of boys.

The anonymous online survey quizzed a total of 7,802 young people aged 11 to 16 from 10 different secondary schools across the city (63% of pupils).

Juliette Parkin/BBC A women is turning to face the camera in a boxing gym. She is wearing a brown leather coat with a cream coloured sheepskin colour. She has shoulder length brown hair and is smiling. Women are training in the gym behind her. Juliette Parkin/BBC
Council leader Bella Sankey said this was an important strand of women's equality

Councillor Bella Sankey, leader of BHCC, said: "Women and girls are not being as active as their male counterparts and it's so important to shift that.

"This is a really important strand of women's equality, ensuring that there is equal access to opportunity and that girls and women can find their thing."

As part of the campaign, all activity providers and local clubs in the city are being invited to share details of their sessions and success stories.

Mitchell said she had her sights set on competing in the next Olympics in 2028 and eventually turning professional.

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