Portrait No. 15 - SIRINE BIRI

Sirine is a boxer who became the French junior champion in 2019 after only one year of competition. We met her during the photoshoot for our embroidered capsule collection. in 2021. Find out about his inspiring journey in his portrait!

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Sirine Biri, I am 21 years old, I am a student and a boxer.

When did you start boxing? How did this passion come to you?

I started when I was 12, just for fun, then I took a break when I started high school and started again seriously in my final year of high school (it allowed me to relieve stress and think about something other than classes and the Baccalaureate). It was my mom who one day decided to sign me up for boxing so I could learn to defend myself. I was, and still am, a rather reserved and shy girl.

Which club do you play for?

I started at Pantin Muay Thai (PMT) and I'm still there.

What is your training schedule and how do you combine it with your studies?

My rhythm varies, we generally have between 3 and 4 training sessions per week. I would say that I don't have any particular techniques for combining sport and studies, there are concessions to make, no going out (well I didn't go out much already 😅), watching my weight, having time for homework/revision, trying to manage fatigue (which is frankly not easy) but we make do. Then loving what we do makes it a little easier, and makes us want to give it our all.

Can you share with us your best memory in the ring?

My best memory is winning the French championships in 2019 for my first year competing. Honestly, I never in my life told myself that one day I would be French champion in Muay Thai. It was an incredible feeling and memory, my coaches, the people from the club who came to encourage me, the atmosphere, the victory! I'm pretty proud of it.

When you decided to take up boxing, were there any reservations from those close to you? How did they view the sport?

It wasn't really me who decided to do boxing, it was rather my mother who suggested I do it to learn how to defend myself. For practicing it as a hobby, no, no reluctance. It was rather when I said that I was going to compete where my parents weren't too much for it. They were afraid for me (they are still afraid today 😂), which I understand.

After winning the French junior championship title in 2019, what are your next goals and how are you preparing for them? Has Covid changed things?

After winning the 2019 junior championships, I want to make a name for myself, a small place in the world of Thai boxing. This year I won the Ile de France championships as a senior amateur in my category, which leads me to the French championships taking place in May. I just want to have fun, and advance as far as possible. We train with the coaches and other boxers, the big ones don't spare me, and that's what's needed! We're not going to lie to each other, the covid put all our projects and our progress on hold, but I tell myself that it's a break that allowed me to get back into training, I missed it so much.

What message would you like to give to young girls who want to get into the ring but don't dare?

Girls, dare!!! I'm shy and reserved, rather discreet, not violent, and that's where I am today (on my own small scale). Muay Thai has allowed me to evolve, to open up, to stay in shape, to think about something else, to assert myself, to let off steam, to just have fun! Then, you have to tell yourself that you only live once, so you might as well try everything!