At Entrepreneurs Day 2016 at the end of July in Munich, Women’ s International Boxing Federation Champion Regina Halmich gave a talk about success. In her allotted 30 minutes she took her audience through the highs and lows of her 20-year career. Speaking entirely without any accompanying pictures, she reminded them of well-known episodes such as her 2001 triumph over Stefan Raab when he challenged her to a show fight for TV total, which created television history with the highest viewing figures to date for Pro 7. Between her great public victories there have been quiet moments of defeat such as the press conference in Kiev, where as a woman she was not allowed to speak as at the time the sport of boxing was very much a male affair, or when her fights were broadcast on ZDF at two in the morning because no-one believed in a woman achieving success in this male-dominated sport.“ Do we really want to see this?” was the headline in the BILD newspaper in 1991, after her first defeat at the beginning of her career. But we did. Today Regina Halmich can look back on a career as the most successful female boxer in the world. Over twelve years she defended her title undefeated and on ZDF she finally had a highly paid primetime contract that attracted six million viewers. Fellow boxers such as Vitali Klitschko fought in her undercard matches. Her statistics: 56 fights, 54 wins. She finished her career in 2007“ when it was at its best”. She still works as an ambassador for her sport and this autumn adidas will be selling Regina Halmich’ s first collection of boxing clothing for women. After she had spoken in Munich DELUXE took the opportunity to talk to her about the latest trends in sport, motivation and also red carpet outfits.
Frau Halmich, after your unparalleled sporting career you have gone on to forge another professional career. How do you achieve your goals? My professional success is no coincidence. Honest hard work is what counts- even after your career is over. It’ s important to keep learning, to develop and to be open to all things new. I am also helped by the experience I’ ve gained over the past 15 years. I simply always try to give my best. This frame of mind helps me to achieve most of the goals I set myself.
You now work as a commentator on women’ s boxing and you have opened many doors for this generation. Has the sport changed over the past few years? A great deal has changed in women’ s boxing, it is now socially acceptable! Despite this it is still hard for women to assert themselves in this male-dominated sport.
Up to now you have not worked as a coach, which at first glance is a bit of a surprise. Is it conceivable that in the future you could train up-and-coming youngsters? Of course I can see myself coaching young talent. But at the moment I’ m so busy I simply don’ t have the time. I am the brand ambassador for Fitnessfirst, I coach trainers, give lectures and deliver training sessions to large companies. For the time being these new and interesting challenges keep me fulfilled.
In 2016 you were given an award for your involvement with EMS training. Are there other new sports that interest you? I am always interested in new sports and trends. I personally use TRX, freestyle and BoxCamp in training.
REGINA HALMICH’ S MALLORCA TIP: PURO BEACH CLUB ON PLAYA DE PALMA
Your first collection for ADIDAS is coming out this autumn. What can we expect? My adidas women’ s boxing collection will go on sale this autumn and I’ m really looking forward to it. The collection is functional, but modern at the same time. The shapes are becoming more feminine. In the past boxing shorts were very unflattering, they were really designed for men. That is now going to change. That’ s a promise. Boxing can be sexy too.
You develop training programmes for sports studios and for workouts at home. What is the optimum training quota per week? Generally speaking any training session is beneficial to your health. Personally I recommend 3 to 4 training sessions of 30 to 60 minutes per week. It’ s better to train effectively for a shorter length of time than for hours on end. That achieves nothing.
Diet and nutrition are crucial for professional sportsmen and women. What do you yourself tend to eat and what do you recommend? Now I am no longer a professional sportswoman I no longer count calories. I’ m not impressed by the obsession with being skinny. The goal should be a healthy, well-shaped body in which one feels good. Apart from that I try to eat a healthy, filling diet and make sure I get enough protein. That helps if you want to lose weight. I prefer wholewheat carbohydrates and eat them for lunch instead of in the evening.
Nowadays we see you in dresses and high heels at red carpet events. As a female professional boxer where do you stand on the subject of beauty? Looking good certainly has its place, particularly when you are in the public eye. But it should not be the most important thing. If you are happy with yourself then you will radiate that happiness. I personally regard that as beauty.
You have already achieved a great deal, do you have new goals for the future? I am really enjoying the things I am doing at the moment. Regardless of whether I am running a training session, giving a lecture or commentating on a boxing match. Everything I do, I do with passion. And that brings me fulfilment. I have no major goals. It is often the smaller things in life that matter most.
We see you in Mallorca every now and then, for a photo shoot or in the company of your friend Christine Neubauer at an art exhibition in Palma. What do you like about the Island and what can you recommend? Yes, I’ m always meeting Christine at events. Last year she invited me to her art exhibition, which was great. Mallorca is a very beautiful island, with so many different sides to it. Es Trenc beach is enchanting, and I can highly recommend it. Or simply chilling comfortably at Puro Beach Club has something really special about it. Otherwise I love strolling through Palma’ s Old Town. The beauty of Mallorca is it has something to offer everyone, regardless of whether they want rest and relaxation or to party all night.
Your ideal holiday would be ….... sand, sun and sea. A delicious cocktail, good music and a couple of friends. That is my idea of a perfect holiday. Mallorca has it all, doesn’ t it? I’ d love to come to the Island – and if the opportunity arose I would like to offer a boxing workshop.
Frau Halmich, many thanks for talking to us. TRANSLATION: CELIA MOODY
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