Roumaysa Boualam: From practicing karate to becoming Algeria’s female boxing pioneer
Roumaysa Boualam hopes to be the first female boxer from her country to win an Olympic medal in the sport, while being a good role model for young girls, she told Olympics.com.
Boxing
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, boxer Roumaysa Boualam made history for Algeria.
The two-time African champion became the first female boxer to represent her country at an Olympic Games.
A big milestone for the athlete, who shared the memorable experience with her compatriots Imane Khelif and Ichrak Chaib.
“I am so proud to be the first female from Algeria, who qualified for the Olympics with my two friends,” Boualam told Olympics.com at the Paris 2024 Boxing Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, which is live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.
“It was such an honour for us to represent our country.”
Roumaysa Boualam: A love for combat sports
Now, Boualam enjoys great success in boxing, having won several local and regional titles.
However, the 28-year-old Algerian started her sporting career elsewhere.
“When I was younger, I loved combat sports, and when I was three, I did karate. After I changed to boxing in 2013. I love boxing. It's a sport and noble art,” she said.
Slowly, Boualam developed in the new sport, and just six years after the change, she claimed the African Games title at flyweight.
Later she added the Arab Games, the Mediterranean Games, and the African Championships twice, to reach the status as one of the best female boxers on the continent.
“It makes me feel stressed, because I have to always become better and better,” she shared.
Roumaysa Boualam: A role model
For many years in Africa, boxing was perceived as a male sport. Boualam has been in the sport for ten years, and has experienced first-hand how that perception has changed.
“Female boxing is getting better all the time. The idea of a female, who does boxing has changed in many countries of Africa. That's why boxing has become a sport like all the other sport that female can do,” she said and added that the boxing level of Africa in general is improving.
Boualam’s journey in boxing has inspired a lot of women, and she feels a big responsibility to show the way for young girls.
“There is a lot of girls who send me messages and support me and want to be like me. We as athletes have to be good role models for them. We have to always keep our image clear and be respectful all the time,” she continued.
Roumaysa Boualam: The Olympic dream
In Dakar, at the Boxing Africa Olympic Qualifier, Boualam is competing in the 50kg class, with the aim of booking a spot at the next Games.
The Algerian became 2023 African champion in light-flyweight recently, and she expects nothing less of herself this time in Senegal.
“My mission is to achieve the ticket for Paris and to win the [Olympic qualifier].”
Nevertheless, Boualam revealed that she has bigger goals, should she get to Paris 2024.
“Every athlete's dream is to win the medal at the Olympics. That's what I'm aiming for. And I want to be on the podium and keep the flag of Algeria high,” she concluded.