Sweden’s former WBC super-featherweight champion Frida Wallberg talks about battling back from brain injury

Frida Wallberg’s brave battle

As part of the World Boxing Council’s Where Are They Now Series, the WBC have been talking with Sweden’s former WBC Super Featherweight Champion Frida Wallberg.

In 2013, Frida lost her green and gold championship to Australia’s Diana Prazak at the Water Front Congress in Stockholm. Frida suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and underwent an emergency operation at the Karolinska Institutet. Since then, Frida has been working hard with her ongoing recovery.

We started by asking Frida:

 

The accident happened in 2013. Almost 10 years later, how has your recovery progressed?

"Certain days I have an extensive brain fatigue depending on how tough the days have been."

 

How have the funds from the WBC been able to help you, because for some time during your recovery it wasn’t possible to work?

"The payments from the WBC have been and still are extremely helpful for the support of me and my children. Since the fall in 2023 I have worked part time as a treatment assistant, but since the prices due the inflation in Sweden have substantially increased and my part time job is low paid I am still in great need of the WBC’s very appreciated support."

 

I’ve been told you are working as a child therapist? 

"I am working part time as a treatment assistant, which mostly goes fine, but sometimes I have to reject a work day due to acute headaches."

 

Are you able to exercise in the gym? 

"To feel well, I must exercise. When I have the time between work and my children, who I have full time as I live alone, I try to exercise. I am in quite good shape."

 

What happened changed your life. How have you adapted?

"Of course, my whole life has changed. To the extent that I can I try to find new ways that work for me. I believe that I have created a new structure that works OK."

 

Do you still follow boxing and watch it on television?

"Of course, I follow boxing a little bit. I even watch it sometimes."

 

You were a brilliant boxer and have so much knowledge. Have you contemplated being a coach?

"I have and do think about me wanting to be a source of inspiration to make people feel good. You can succeed also during setbacks."

 

Do you have any regrets fro your boxing career?

"My whole life has been boxing. I am happy over what I have achieved and that I reached the top."

 

Have any of your children expressed an interest in boxing and if they did would you encourage or dissuade them?

"My eldest daughter plays tennis on a high level. My other two children are still young. If any of my children would like to box, I would of course support it, but still inform about the risks within the sport."

 

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