Hannah Rankin: ‘I am determined to find a way to make things work’

Hannah Rankin

When and why you started boxing:
I was 23, Iโ€™d just finished university where I studied music and I wanted to get fit again. I found the normal gyms quite boring and wanted to get back into combat sports.

Favourite all-time fighter:
Itโ€™s got to be Arturo Gatti. It doesnโ€™t matter where or who he was fighting, he always put on a show. He is the boxer I would most like to be like.

Best fight youโ€™ve seen:
One of my favourites is Errol Spence-Shawn Porter. I watch that one back all the time.

Personal career highlight:
Making history for my country by becoming Scotlandโ€™s first ever female world [IBO] champion.

Toughest opponent:
Claressa Shields. Sheโ€™s got fantastic use of distance and ring generalship. You think youโ€™re out of range but sheโ€™s very, very quick. Some might expect me to say Savannah Marshall but I was in that fight until I got injured. I was never really in it against Shields.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My best has to be my tenacity, I am determined to find a way to make things work. And my worst? Probably impatience! I can be impatient to do something in the ring or even to learn something.

Training tip:
To get a really good team around you. One that pushes you to achieve your best, who is always there and who have your best interests at heart.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
Anything Vietnamese. I always vary what I have, I couldnโ€™t pick one dish, that would be unfair!

Best friends in boxing:
Ellie Scotney, Claressa Shields and Sandy Ryan. We all talk a lot.

Other sportsperson you would like to be:
Laura Muir who just won silver at the Olympics in the 1500 metres. She has this incredible fifth gear that she brings out of nowhere.

Last film/TV show you saw:
Prodigal Son. It is really good, with some clever dark humour.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
Iโ€™d like Natalie Portman to play me. Sheโ€™s very cool.

Have you ever been starstruck:
I blushed when I met Andre Ward, I was so excited to meet him. And when I was first introduced to Anthony Joshua, I squeaked, then I walked into a door. Mortifying!

Best advice received:
The harder you work the luckier you become. From Gary Jacobs.

Worst rumour about yourself:
That Iโ€™m not actually Scottish.

Something nobody knows about you:
When I was a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist because I wanted to find an Egyptian mummy.

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