Alexis Pritchard bares all for Commonwealth Games medal quest.
Sacrifices in elite sport are usually more physical or mental than financial. But at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, veteran boxer Alexis Pritchard is one of 150 self-funded Kiwi athletes often forced to extreme lengths to fund medal aspirations. In Pritchard's case, one avenue involved baring all.
Dipping into her pocket is nothing new for Pritchard. The full-time physio has funded sporting endeavours for 15 years, a timespan that's seen her attend three major events and become the first New Zealand female boxer to win a bout at the 2012 London Olympics.
Her gloves were hung up following the 2016 World Championships, only to mount a comeback with the return of the 57kg weight class at these Games.
Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxer Alexis Pritchard. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Qualifying involved Pritchard and husband Cameron Todd, who doubles as her coach, travelling to Texas and raising over $45,000 in the last 18 months just to step in the ring this week in Australia. Prichard and Todd run Auckland gym Wreck Room and time away doesn't stop the bills flowing.
"It's a lot of hard choices. It drives me to do better."
While loyal supporters have been there from start, Pritchard is constantly forced to put her hand out. It's something she, and many others, struggle with.
"That is one of the hardest things for me to do," the 34-year-old medal hope says. "I hate asking for money but it's one of the things I have to do to compete here. I don't know any different. In a way it helps the hunger but on the flipside I don't get to train as much as someone who is not working full-time and fundraising at the same time."
Fundraising events were held recently at her gym, with 60 people purchasing raffle tickets, but last year Prichard also auctioned three large, revealing photos to help fund her campaign.
"We took some beautiful artistic nude pictures - yes I'm nude in the photos but they turned out to be incredibly powerful images of a strong women athlete who is embracing her body and being courageous enough to take her clothes off and be photographed. That was one of the biggest things I had to overcome.
"And then to have people look at those pictures was another big thing to embrace. It was quite nerve-wracking having me up there with nothing on but they turned out to be incredible and they've helped me get here.
"It's incredible the amount of people who want to come out and help support."
One of the images posed by Kiwi boxer Alexis Pritchard. Photo / Marcos Mortensen Steagall
The price of a medal is impossible to define, and far from guaranteed, but Prichard is just one athlete clearly willing to do anything to be in contention.
She talks enviously about the millions behind her British boxing counterparts, and hopes one day her successors will be in a better position.
In terms of the wider New Zealand team, she also appreciates she is not alone and those shared struggles enhance camaraderie.
"I hope one day all athletes can be funded to some extent because it takes a lot of pressure off.
"To some extent in New Zealand we seem to embrace this underdog mentality. We do really well not having full-time athletes and having to fund ourselves. But just imagine how much better we could do if all our athletes were at the same level. I think we could really shine.
"I thought this is an opportunity to show myself when I know that I'm good enough. I'm confident in my abilities, the training we've done over the last 18 months, and I'm looking forward to competing but I can't guarantee anyone a gold medal, or any medal, but I can guarantee I will fight my heart out in every moment."
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