Canadian boxing star Bujold retires, leaving sport a better place for female athletes

Mandy Bujold's boxing career didn't end as she'd envisioned.

Five years after illness ruined her chances at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 11-time national flyweight champion had dreamed of capturing a medal in Tokyo, but she was eliminated in the opening round.

Still, her months-long battle with the International Olympic Committee just to compete in Tokyo paved a new path for women athletes wanting to combine sport and motherhood.

Bujold stepped into the ring with the biggest opponent in sport — the International Olympic Committee — and won. In many ways, the victory was bigger than any medal podium she climbed in her illustrious career.

"That's definitely the win that came out of that (Olympics) for sure," Bujold said. "And something that'll continue to affect the next generation moving forward, which is definitely great."

The 34-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., announced her retirement on Wednesday and reflected on a long career that had plenty of highs, but also some gut-wrenching lows.

Bujold lost to Nina Radovanovic of Serbia in the opening round of the Tokyo Olympics in her first international bout in more than 18 months. Making matters worse, COVID restrictions meant her coach Syd Vanderpool wasn't in her corner when she needed him most.

In an interview moments after the bout, a tearful Bujold curled her hands into a heart sign to her daughter Kate Olympia — or K.O.

"One day, I'm going to be able to share the entire story with (Kate)," Bujold said that afternoon at Kokugikan Arena. "Absolutely this was a win for me on this journey. Unfortunately, it didn't happen in the ring, but it happened outside."

Bujold's battle to compete in Tokyo made international headlines. The trouble began when COVID-19 wiped out the