In the ring, Victoria Vergos embodies the \u2018sweet science\u2019 of boxing, but as a Brock University Kinesiology student, she\u2019s mastering the science of movement to deliver powerful punches on a global stage.<\/p>\n
As she prepares to represent Canada at the World Boxing U19 Championships in Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 26, the first-year Kinesiology student from Hamilton is treating boxing as more than just a sport; it\u2019s a way of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI picked Brock because it proved to be a supportive learning environment, especially for those who are balancing extracurricular activities and sports,\u201d Vergos said. \u201cI specifically chose Kinesiology because it aligns with my passion regarding physical activity and health science. I enjoy everything that comes with it and am planning on minoring in Psychology to explore the mental aspect of this passion.\u201d<\/p>\n
While boxing requires physical toughness, Vergos stresses the importance of mental strength. Inspired by her own challenges in the sport, she started a podcast focusing on the mental aspect of athletics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized how crucial mentality is,\u201d she said. \u201cCreating the podcast allowed me to share my experiences and learn more about myself along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vergos’ athletic story began at just six years old when her parents sought to channel her endless energy into something productive. She joined a gymnastics club, quickly excelling in the sport and competing provincially.<\/p>\n
\u201cGymnastics taught me discipline and sacrifice early on,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were days I didn\u2019t want to train, but I had to push through, and that foundation helped me when I transitioned to boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The transition wasn\u2019t planned, but when COVID-19 hit, Vergos began pad work with her father, a former boxer and current coach, sparking a new passion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was 13, and I remember thinking how different and exciting boxing felt,\u201d she said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t something a typical 13-year-old girl would gravitate towards, and that made me love it even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite initial skepticism from her parents about the switch, her father\u2019s support became crucial.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad would show me legendary fights, like those of Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis, and it all started to click,\u201d Vergos said. \u201cI felt like I was part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vergos\u2019 journey wasn\u2019t easy. Growing up, she often found herself sparring with boys due to the lack of female competitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was tough to find matches. Sometimes it was discouraging, but it made me stronger mentally,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to fight through those obstacles and look for opportunities like nationals or international competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her resilience paid off. Vergos has travelled the globe, from national competitions to the Continentals in Colombia, where a tough loss in the first round pushed her to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat fight was one of my biggest learning experiences,\u201d she said. \u201cLosing doesn\u2019t define your career; it shapes you. I went on a winning streak afterward and grew so much as a fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n
In March, she found triumph at the Junior and Youth Canadian Championships in Calgary, which earned her a spot at Worlds in Colorado.<\/p>\n
As Vergos prepares for the world stage, her focus remains on balance \u2014 between school, boxing and life. Studying Kinesiology at Brock helps her understand the science behind her sport and pursue future career goals that align with her passion.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoxing is more than just stepping into the ring for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIt opens so many doors, from sponsorships to connecting with people, and it\u2019s something I want to continue pursuing both in and outside the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the ring, Victoria Vergos embodies the \u2018sweet science\u2019 of boxing, but as a Brock University Kinesiology student, she\u2019s mastering the science of movement to deliver powerful punches on a global stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":96757,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[36,1],"tags":[13959,7488,15],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96756"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96756"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96758,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96756\/revisions\/96758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}