Mandy Bujold

Mandy Bujold was born in 1987 in Cobourg, Ontario, grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, and in 2002 settled in Kitchener where she still resides. She was introduced to the sport of boxing in 2004 and for the past two decades has been a bold challenger both in the ring and as an advocate for gender equality in sport.

Mandy began boxing recreationally before pursuing a competitive career in the Fly Weight division. Her many successes began in 2006 when she won the Canadian National Championships and a Boxer of the Year title.

Those achievements were just the beginning of a long list of boxing successes: 11 Canadian National Championships and 3 Continental Championships. When women’s boxing was first included, she won a Gold medal at the Pan American Games and a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, she defended her title and became the only female boxer in history to win 2 Pan American Games titles.

Mandy was featured in the Canadian Olympic Committee’s advertising campaign in the run up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. She entered competition ranked second in the world, was a big medal favourite, and made it to the quarter finals. In spite of an illness that landed her in hospital overnight before her scheduled bout, she entered the ring and challenged – and succumbed to – one of the best boxers in the world. With her courage and tenacity on full display, she endeared herself to her fans, her community and her country.

Mandy took time away from boxing in 2018 to welcome her newborn daughter, Kate Olympia (KO) McIver. In 2019, she returned to international contests where she placed in the top 3 at every competition, and rounded out the year by claiming Gold at the Canadian Olympic Qualifier, securing a spot in the America’s qualifier.

Mandy was preparing once again to represent Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, rescheduled for 2022. All Qualifiers were cancelled because of the global pandemic. When the IOC Boxing Task Force started to select events to qualify athletes, it was during Mandy’s pregnancy and postpartum periods. The International Boxing Association classified her maternity leave as an injury, and the IOC would not accommodate. Mandy confronted the Association about unequal treatment of women in sport, sought a ruling at the International Court of Arbitration, and won her precedent setting case. The IOC amended its criteria. She was now eligible to be considered for the Olympics under the principle that women who are pregnant must be given equal opportunity to qualify. Her challenge paved the way for women to compete internationally while also beginning their families. This was a major victory for all women athletes.

She has been widely recognized for her many achievements which include: 2016 KW Citizen of the Year, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, twice KW Athlete of the Year, Oktoberfest Women of the Year (sports category), and Women of Waterloo (WOW) Region award.

Mandy devotes her time within the community as a certified coach, Level 3 Referee/Judge for Boxing Canada, and continues to mentor up and coming athletes.