Team Canada boxers fighting to keep Tokyo Olympic dream alive
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — When the pandemic put a pause on everything last year, including the Olympics, many world-class athletes didn’t stop training and trying to make their dreams a reality. Team Canada Boxers, Jean-Michael Bianco and Justin Parina, who train out of the renowned Mississauga MMA facility Kombat Arts, are a couple of local athletes anxious to represent their country in Tokyo this summer.
Through a roller coaster of restrictions surrounding covid, both men have been fighting to keep hope alive that they will indeed get to attend the international competition they’ve been preparing for most of their lives.
John-Michael Bianco
Sport: Boxing
Age: 27
Weight Class: 81kg, Light Heavyweight
Years of practice: 10
Titles Earned: 2019 Olympic Qualification Winner, 3x Golden Gloves, State of American Games Winner, 2x Silver & Bronze Gloves, 2x Brampton Cup
Training Schedule: 2-3 times per day, 5-6 days a week
Coaches: Sean Fulgencio, Socrates Celestial, Sebastian Buitrago, Daniel Thession, and Shar Gupta
Approach to Training: Show Up, Work Hard, Listen
Worst Injury: A broken hand during a fight (persevered to still win the fight and the whole tournament)
Biggest Misconception About Your Sport: “Boxers always want to fight, and are aggressive and mean, but I’m a laid-back kind of guy. All that tough stuff I leave in the ring.”
Pandemic Perspective: “I have adapted due to what I can and can’t do. If the gyms aren’t open, the roads are. If it’s raining outside, it’s dry inside my apartment. Finding executions instead of excuses.”
Aside From Athletics: “I like to read, sometimes write. I love hiking and if I could live on a beach, I probably would.”
Personally Speaking: “I am engaged, I will be married at the end of August!”
Advice to aspiring athletes: “Never get intimidated. Boxing is for serious competitors, but also great for exercise and fun. Whether you want to be the best in the world, learn how to fight, or want to get in shape, it’s for everybody.”
Justin Parina
Sport: Boxing
Age: 21
Weight Class: 52kg, Flyweight
Years of practice: 7
Titles Earned: 3x National Champion, 2019 Olympic Trials Winner, 2x Golden Gloves Champion, 2x Brampton Cup Gold, 2019 Melee Gala – Team Canada vs Team Philippines, Winner, 2018 La Romana Cup @ Dominican Republic, Silver, and 2016 Ontario Summer Youth Games Gold
Coaches: Socrates Celestial and Sean Fulgencio
Hardest Obstacle Overcome: Funding. Being on the national team as a non-centralized athlete (an athlete training outside the Olympic centre) during previous years, required Justin to also work in order to afford training expenses and international competitions, limiting his prep time.
Pandemic Perspective: “Finding motivation was hard for everyone, including athletes. Nevertheless, I knew I was representing my family and millions of Canadians, so I have a big responsibility to make them proud. To stay ready, I continued my daily roadwork (running) and replaced my weight training with calisthenics. I was lucky to have my brother who also boxes, to work together with pads, drills and sparring.”
Aside from athletics: “I am very outgoing. I love music, outdoors, museums and I’m a thrill-seeker!”
Personally Speaking: “I was also studying a full course load in Bachelor of Nursing at Humber, but have put that on hold to focus on boxing.”
Advice to aspiring athletes: “Prepare to make sacrifices, confront fear and be bold. Prepare your mind to tolerate pain – physically and mentally, and embrace setbacks then learn and improve from them.”
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