When it comes to athletic challenges, Sooke resident Rachael Spurling has always been up to the test.
“I’ve always been pretty active, like when I was younger I would bike a lot and I would play football for fun,” says Spurling.
The former hairdresser turned boxer has used the sport to motivate her through tough times.
“I had a pretty hard past, so it was a sport that saved me really from my past,” says Spurling.
“So it means a lot to me and I’m really passionate about it for that reason.”
It was through Spurling’s Instagram page that a producer for a new CBC show reached out to the Sooke mom.
“I have an Instagram page that’s for women that have been through a hard past and I show how boxing has helped me out and so I think they kind of found that,” says Spurling.
“They messaged me on there to apply for it and so I thought this is a good way for some more growth in my life and to be a good example for women.”
The show is Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, where teams travel the country competing in various challenges with coaching from top Canadian athletes.
“We [had] six teams that it starts with, and it’s an elimination show, so teams will get eliminated as you go,” says Spurling.
“My coach was Jen Kish, she’s a rugby player, and there’s a bunch of Olympians on the show that are our coaches for every team.”
Spurling has battled through adversity and faced her fears to make it to the show’s semi-finals.
“We’re super excited. It took a lot of hard work and some bad moments to so you know you like, and you learn,” laughs Spurling.
“I’m excited, there’s so much to come, and the next episode’s going to be crazy.”
The penultimate episode of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge airs Thursday Mar. 30th on CBC.
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