Iranian-born boxer proud of her culture while pursuing Olympic glory for Canada

The story of Canada’s No. 1-ranked flyweight boxer, Iranian-born Nyousha Nakhjiri, will make its big screen debut this weekend in the documentary Constant Battles.

But Nakhjiri won’t be able to make it as she’s still in the ring. 

The 29-year-old is currently representing Canada at the 2026 World Boxing Cup in Foz Do Iguaca, Brazil, after winning the 48kg division at the 2025 Canadian boxing national championships last November. 

Her ultimate goal however, is to compete at the Olympic Games. 

“It would mean the world to me,” Nakhjiri told CBC Sports. “Who would pass up on the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics?” 

Nakhjiri’s arduous journey to try and become the first Iranian-born woman to box at the Paris 2024 Olympics is captured in the film, whichpremiers at Toronto’s Hot Docs festival on Saturday.

“Even though I'm technically representing Team Canada, because unfortunately I don't have the opportunity to represent Team Iran, I still carry that with me everywhere I go,” said Nakhjiri, a Canadian citizen who trains out of Quinit Boxing in Vancouver. “I feel like in a small way, I'm trying to represent the people of Iran and the women of Iran, especially.” 

Nakhjiri’s personal challenges navigating anxiety — attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — and her mother's trauma from fleeing Iran, a country where women are banned from competing in boxing, are all central themes in the film. 

Canadian boxing champion hopes to represent her Iranian roots at the next Olympics

Nakhijri was born and raised in Iran, where she says she was a “hyper-active” child, often moving around and kicking soccer balls, behaviour that was frowned upon for little girls. 

“I would do well in every class, but in Iran we’d have