Destined to SOAR.
This interview series is aimed at celebrating, recognising and promoting the incredible talent and ferocious courage of our young women of tomorrow.
Let's recognise the magnificent effort of girls' in sport across all codes!
Today our interview is with Sofia Piestrzeniewicz, Soar Active had the privilege to catch up with Sofia at her training academy Riddlers Gym, Osborne Park in the Western Australian suburb of Dianella to hear her story.
- Sofia, tell us about your early life?
Sofia: I was born on October 27 2008 in Australia. It was just me, mum and dad for seven years before they had my brother. When I was growing up I did lots of different hobbies and sports such as swimming, ballet, cheerleading, gymnastics, karate and other things. Most of which my mum had signed me up for.
- So how did you discover Muay Thai?
Sofia: I personally didn’t discover Muay Thai, in 2018 my mum found a promotion from Riddlers Gym for juniors to join and at that time I wasn’t doing many sports so she enrolled me in. At first I didn’t love it, I went every two weeks but I wasn’t consistent. One day a friend joined and that’s when I started going more often. It felt great to be able to train with someone I knew. She eventually lost interest, but by this time I was hooked and I loved it. I decided at this point to drop all my other sports and then commit to Muay Thai.
Muay Thai has taught me a sense of belonging and community, everyone is so nice and kind to each other. It has taught me a lot about resilience.
- What was your next step?
Sofia: I didn’t really get competitive until 2021, my coaches presented me the opportunity to move to the fighters. I was only in YR 7 at this point.
- How do you balance your competitive training and managing school?
Sofia: Starting high school was tough alongside competitive fighting. I always complete my homework and assignments on time. If I am at the gym waiting for my class to start I use that time to do my homework. I try to stay on top of my homework, I absolutely love Muay Thai and I love being on top of my school work. I also want to set an example for others.
- What do you do in your downtime?
Sofia: I don’t get a lot of downtime between school and training, but when I do I love reading a book or mucking about on my phone.
- What makes you feel happy, brave, and strong?
Sofia: Doing things that I love, but also food. I love my mum’s cooking it’s a guilty pleasure. Something that makes me feel brave is doing what people think was not possible and when I feel strong is when I prove people wrong about their opinions of me. Even more so as I’m a girl and when people think that I can’t be as powerful or as strong as boys and then I prove them wrong, that’s what makes me feel strong.
- A special moment in the last year and why?
Sofia: I will always remember it, it was when I won my first fight last year, I was so overwhelmed that I started crying.
- What is your ultimate goal?
Sofia: To continue to do Muay Thai and keep competing.
- What's your favourite attribute about yourself?
Sofia: I love that I’m always so determined when I want something I will go head forward into it.
- One thing you would say to other young females following their heart and big dreams?
Sofia: Just go for it. No one and nothing is holding you back more than yourself and if you feel happy doing it then keep on going. You only live once, make the most of it and go do what you love.
Follow her journey on Instragram.
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Know another inspiring young teen or want to be featured?
Email us at hq@soaractive.com with your story.
