Life lessons from boxing | Carrie Barry | TEDxCU

Summary

Carrie Barry, known as 'Coach,' shares her inspiring journey from being a captain in amateur boxing to facing a career-ending ACL injury. Despite the setback, she found purpose as a coach, co-founding a boxing club and initiating the 'Rusty Gloves' program for individuals with Parkinson's. Her story highlights the power of resilience, community, and the transformative impact of boxing on mental and physical well-being.

Takeaways

• 🥊 Carrie Barry, known as 'Coach,' is a former amateur boxing captain of Team USA with a history of winning championships and traveling the world.
• 🏆 On October 3, 2011, she competed in the Pal National Tournament with the aim of earning a spot in the first-ever Olympic trials for women's boxing.
• 🧘‍♀️ Carrie was in a mental zone, performing exceptionally well, and considered switching stances but chose not to out of respect for her opponent and friend.
• 😖 With 30 seconds left in the final round, she suffered a severe injury, tearing her right ACL, which led to the end of her boxing career.
• 🤔 Despite the injury, Carrie had to make a quick decision not to continue the fight due to the knowledge that she would not pass the post-fight physical examination.
• 💪 Despite setbacks, she views her life as one of resilience, having overcome homelessness, multiple moves, and surviving sexual assault.
• 📚 The sport of boxing has been transformative for her, teaching her about herself and leading to the formation of meaningful relationships.
• 🛑 Transitioning from an athlete to a coach was a natural progression for Carrie, inspired by great coaches and the philosophy of impacting others' greatness.
• 🥋 In 2014, she co-founded a boxing club in Boulder, Colorado, which later introduced the 'Rusty Gloves' program for individuals combating Parkinson's disease.
• 👵 The 'Rusty Gloves' program has expanded to include individuals combating the effects of aging, promoting a supportive community for all ages.
• 👥 The boxing club culture emphasizes the importance of teamwork and community, with athletes taking ownership of each other's success.
• 🤝 The story of 'Spence' illustrates the power of team support and individual determination in achieving goals within the sport.
• 🌟 Boxing offers both physical and mental/emotional benefits, teaching individuals to feel safe in their bodies and build confidence.
• 🏅 The script concludes with a reflection on the broader application of boxing's lessons to life's struggles, emphasizing the importance of community and fighting for one's beliefs.

Q & A

Who is Carrie Barry and what is her profession?

Carrie Barry, also known as 'Coach', is a former amateur boxer who was the captain of Team USA for over 10 years, winning multiple championships. She is now a boxing coach.

What significant event was Carrie preparing for on October 3, 2011?

Carrie was preparing for the National Tournament, where winning would earn her a spot at the Olympic trials, which was the first ever for women.

What injury did Carrie suffer during the National Tournament that ended her boxing career?

Carrie suffered a torn right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which ended her boxing career.

How did Carrie's first ACL injury lead her to the sport of boxing?

Carrie's first ACL injury led her to boxing as a form of rehabilitation, which eventually became her chosen sport.

What is the significance of the 'Rusty Gloves' program in the boxing club Carrie co-founded?

The 'Rusty Gloves' program is designed for individuals combating Parkinson's disease and the effects of aging, using non-contact boxing as a form of therapy.

What is the philosophy behind the 'Rusty Gloves' program regarding the participants?

The philosophy is to treat the participants as athletes, not as individuals with a diagnosis, fostering a supportive and empowering environment.

How does the 'Rusty Gloves' program benefit the competitive team members at Carrie's boxing club?

The competitive team members are required to volunteer with the 'Rusty Gloves' program, which helps them become mentors and teaches them empathy and support for others.

What is the 'Old Broads Boxing' program mentioned in the script?

'Old Broads Boxing' is a program within the 'Rusty Gloves' initiative, designed specifically for individuals combating the effects of aging.

How does the script describe the transition from being an athlete to a coach for Carrie?

The transition was natural for Carrie as she had always admired great coaches and was ready to apply her knowledge and experience to coaching others.

What is the message that Carrie wants to convey about the importance of community and support in boxing?

Carrie emphasizes that despite boxing being perceived as an individual sport, success relies heavily on teamwork, community support, and fighting for what one believes in.

How does the story of 'Spence' in the script demonstrate the power of teamwork and personal effort?

Spence's story shows how the collective support and pressure from his team motivated him to achieve a difficult goal, highlighting the importance of personal effort for the benefit of the team.