Today on International Women’s Day, we recognise and celebrate all the amazing women at CombatAUS – athletes, coaches, staff, service providers, Board & Committee members.
Our Athlete Advisory Committee of eight has five inspirational women members, doing great things on & off the mate, in & out of the ring. Get to know them below!
Aoife Coughlan – Judo
U/70kg Judoka currently ranked 8th in the world, 2020 Olympian and 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, Aoife has been doing judo for 23 years.
Aoife holds a double degree in Exercise Science/Sport and Recreation Management from Victoria University and is currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science (clinical practice).
Aoife works at Resilience Training Centre doing reception, gym administration and CrossFit/Judo coaching. Thanks to Judo, she has travelled to 45 different countries and quite a few of them are a bit obscure.
Caitlin Parker – Boxing
70-75kg boxer, 2020 Olympian, 2 x Worlds medalist, 2 x Commonwealth Games medalist, 9 x Australian champion.
Caitlin is the Australian boxing team captain and has been on the team for 12 years, travelling all over the world to compete since she was 15.
Caitlin is an AIS mental fitness ambassador and conducts school presentations through the Victorian Institute of Sport. She is on various committees across the International Boxing Association and CombatAUS, studies Sports Coaching and Development at La Trobe University, is an ambassador and works with a disability support service.
Irene Symeonidis – Wrestling
57kg wrestler, 6 x National Wrestling Champion.
Highest achievement to date: 5th at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Irene has a Bachelor degree in IT & Multimedia. She works at Mat Masters Academy and on digital design projects. Irene loves spreadsheets, camping and being outdoors!
Stacey Hymer – Taekwondo
<57kg National Taekwondo Champion and Tokyo Olympian.
Stacey has been sparring for 15 years. She has a graduate degree in Food Technology and Nutrition at RMIT, aspiring to start her own sports nutrition business and has a dog named Bronson and cat named Scarlet.
Kristy Harris – Boxing
Kristy is a flyweight national boxing athlete, World bronze medalist, and the first female boxer to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2014). Kristy is also now an Independent Director for the International Boxing Association, studies Psychological Science and is a strength & conditioning coach. She also helps manage a Tattoo shop in her hometown of Geelong and loves hanging out with her (parents) rottweiler puppies who are now as heavy as Kristy is!
