Chantelle Reid gunning for gold on Commonwealth debut

Nothing less than the top step of the podium will do for Chantelle Reid as she prepares to make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow.

The 29-year-old boxer heads north of the border with lofty ambitions after an extraordinary return to the sport in early 2023 following a six-year absence due to a severe back injury.

Upon the resumption of her career, Reid qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where she was controversially beaten in the opening round by Morocco’s Khadija Mardi, before going on to win bronze at the 2025 World Championships in Liverpool.

And now the Derby boxer, who will compete in the 70kg weight class, is targeting even more success in Scotland.

"My goals for the Games are a gold medal and to get as much experience as I can, to improve my career, my ability, and just get as much experience as possible," she said.

Reid’s junior career saw her win gold at the 2014 European Junior Championships and a bronze at the 2015 World Youth Championship, before a degenerative disc injury put a halt to her progress.

She was inspired to return to the ring when her former primary school teacher invited her to an assembly centred on people’s dreams and quickly re-established herself back on the international stage.

Now, she is relishing the opportunity to represent England at a major multi-sport event for the first time.

"To be a part of Team England means a lot to me," she continued. "I've worked so hard to get where I am, and to be alongside other athletes who have worked just as hard to get where they are.

“We're all working hard to get where we are, so to be a part of that team means a lot to me.

"It feels like it's gone really quick [since returning]. I had six years out, and then I got back onto the team. Within four months, I qualified for the Olympics. This is my first Commonwealth Games, I missed the last one, but everything is going so quickly."

The unique atmosphere of the Games is something Reid is particularly looking forward to when she takes to the ring at the SEC Centre.

"It will be great to be surrounded by other athletes on the same mission as you, to just reach the top and be the best you can be at the sport," she added.

"I know the last one was in Birmingham, and obviously we've got Glasgow this time, so it's nice that it's still local. The fact that it's a multi-sport event is great too. My preparation has been really good. I’m excited for it.”