FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Military spouse Tiffany "Twinkle Toes" Coussens is one step closer to realizing her dream of competing in the 2012 Olympics after winning the Women's National Golden Gloves in Hollywood, Fla., last month.
There are still more hurdles to clear before that time comes, including the next competition: the USA Boxing National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 12-17. According to her coach, Kevin Green, this competition is the toughest challenge she's faced to date.
"All these (fighters) are going to be on another level," he said. "She did really well at the Golden Gloves, but most of these girls have a lot more experience. It's going to be tougher, but she's just got to believe in herself and what I've taught her. She's been well trained."
Coussens fought twice in the Novice Elite Division at the Golden Gloves competition and won both matches by judges' decisions. She defeated Kimberly Coats, of Texas, 4-1 in the first match and Jayli Fembres, of North Dakota, 5-0 in the second.
Her win makes her the Southeast Region representative in the 132-lb. weight class at the USA Boxing National Championships and improves her record to 5-1.
"I wanted to get really excited after the first fight, but I had to find a way to calm down and get focused," she said. "In the next tournament, I'll be a lot calmer because I know what to expect."
Despite the win, Coussens doesn't want to get too confident before heading into a more competitive fight, she said.
"I just won a national championship and I want to be excited, but I have to step up my game now," she said. "The next set of (fighters) are all way more experienced than any of the ones I've faced so far."
One big difference between the two tournaments is the number of rounds for each match. In the National Golden Gloves, fights lasted for three, two-minute rounds. At the USA Boxing National Championships, each match lasts four rounds.
Coussens said she isn't concerned about the extra round and even welcomes the chance to be in the ring longer.
"There've been so many times when I said 'I wish I could have at least one more round to get my score up,'" she said. "I'm looking forward to getting that chance."
Another concern for the duo is the change in elevation, Green added. The air in Colorado is much thinner than in Florida or Alabama.
"We've been training with surgical masks to simulate the conditions she'll encounter out there," Green said. "It all comes down to training and being in good shape. If she's in good enough shape, the change won't bother her. There's really no added benefit for people who train in that area."
Coussens' husband, Chris, a warrant officer in flight school here, is a second coach for her, she said. He helps her train at home and looks up videos of other fighters to help her prepare.
"He wants me to be the best I can be," she said. "I think a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders after this last tournament, but he still pushes me."
Being pushed past her limits has given Coussens a stronger set of in-ring skills, she added. Green gave her the nickname "Twinkle Toes" as a form of criticism due to poor footwork, she said. Now, the name's meaning has changed.
"My footwork was terrible when we started working," she said. "Now, it's way better and it's because (Green) fixed it."
Social Sharing