Meet the incredible Hayzia Bellem, Chairwoman of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) who are the global governing body for amateur MMA, sponsored by the UFC. As the first in her position, Hayzia has been leading the team at the IMMAF on an international project to promote female participation and gender equality in MMA.

In this episode of In Her Corner, we talk to Hayzia about how Tom Hardy inspired her to start working in MMA, why the challenges she’s faced in her career and personal life have set her up for success and how the IMMAF is supporting the growth of women’s MMA through working with member countries across the world to enable more women to enter, thrive and succeed in the Octagon.

To learn more about Hayzia’s journey tune into In Her Corner. In Her Corner is available to listen to, subscribe and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms.

Episode 17 sees us meet the phenomenally athletic Danusia Francis, an artistic gymnast who competes for team Jamaica who she’ll be representing at next year’s Summer Olympics. Danusia formerly competed for Great Britain before making the switch to Jamaica in their ambition to grow the sport of gymnastics in a nation famed for world-renowned track stars.

In this episode of In Her Corner, we talk to Danusia about the role that national governing bodies have on athletes’ career prospects and welfare, the gender pay gap between male and female athletes and Danusia’s ambitions to win gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

To learn about Danusia’s journey tune into In Her Corner. In Her Corner is available to listen to, subscribe and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major streaming platforms.