Randy Polines Jr., an 18-year-old boxer hailing from Chestermere, is on the brink of something big. Starting his boxing career four years ago under the guidance of his older brother, Randy quickly found his passion for the sport.
Despite a year and a half of layoffs, Randy’s dedication and hard work paid off when he clinched victory at the Nationals earlier this year in the 51kg division, surprising both himself and those around him.
Reflecting on his journey, Randy humbly credits his brother as his first coach, stating, “All the credit goes to him. He taught me everything I know.”
Randy’s selection for the Nationals came as a pleasant surprise, with him revealing, “One day my brother came up to me; he’s like, ‘Oh, one of the heads of Alberta Boxing wants you to join the Nationals.'” This opportunity, coupled with his rigorous training regimen of nearly 20 hours a week, is a testament to Randy’s unwavering commitment to his craft.
Alex Halat, the founder of Olympus Boxing Club Chestermere, commends Randy’s work ethic, describing him as “a hard-working kid” who has managed to steer clear of negative influences and focus on his boxing career. “So hopefully he motivates other kids to follow in his footsteps and one day, in the next four years, we’ll see Randy at the Olympics representing Chestermere,” said Halat.
“For a small boxing club like ours to have someone on the national stage is a huge feather in the cap for the community. So, you know, it just goes to show you that we don’t need to be in a big city and in a big gym to achieve those goals,” said Halat.
“He’s heading to the Nationals camp on July 3rd in Victoria. So, we’re sending him out there. Only two fighters from Alberta are invited to go,” said Halat. Looking ahead, Randy harbours dreams of representing Canada at the Olympics and becoming a world champion someday. With his selection for the Nationals and upcoming training camps with Team Canada, Randy’s aspirations seem closer to realization than ever before.
