Local boxer wins gold at Olympic trials

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Perseverance. It’s the long road to your goal. It’s the blood, sweat and tears on your journey. It’s failing 9 times and succeeding on the 10th. Local female boxer Mikaela Mayer knows all about perseverance and her dream of representing the U.S. at the Summer Olympics is now one step closer.

Mayer won the lightweight division of the U.S. Olympic women’s boxing trials yesterday, clinching her a spot on the national women’s boxing team. She defeated Jajaira Gonzalez in the third match of a three-bout series.

Mayer earned a chance to fight for a berth in the lightweight women’s boxing class at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The 25-year-old has been training in Marquette with boxing coach Al Mitchell.

We’ll continue to follow Mayer on her journey and we send our biggest congrats on this huge accomplishment.