RRM Spotlight: Kandi “Krush” Wyatt

We love to share about our REAL Role Models and their physical activity journey’s. Today, we are sharing about Kandi Wyatt. She has been involved with Fast and Female for years, attending many events to share her story and inspire girls to stay healthy and active in sport and physical activity. Kandi is a Calgary-based professional boxer. She started her sports career very young, remembering always playing a sport. She grew up in a very active family, as the youngest of 4 girls. Kandi first started out in baseball but continued trying many other sports. Kandi said that she tried gymnastics which led her into boxing (not what I would have expected). Kandi started gymnastics because her older sister was competing in gymnastics and she really wanted to learn how to do a backflip. She started learning gymnastics skills, but not a backflip yet. It happened that the gym Kandi went to for gymnastics also had boxing and it caught her eye. Although boxing caught Kandi’s eye she did continue playing baseball and basketball through her teen years. 

She got to a point in sport where she could see boxing as a potential career, more than just playing for fun. Kandi started to see where it could take her, and had encouragement from coaches. This took her on a path to provincials, nationals, introducing the idea of the Olympics and then the professional route. Kandi is now a World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental Champion.

Kandi said that her mom and dad were big role models for her. They helped to instill a good work ethic in her to work hard for her sport. This is important for her rigorous training schedule. Her boxing role model is Christy Martin. Kandi’s advice for young girls is that if you love something and it makes you feel good, keep doing it. Surround yourself with people that support you and make you feel good.