Seven years after retiring from boxing, Stephanie Kernachan is preparing to fulfil a lifelong ambition at the Commonwealth Games. The six-time Scottish champion's remarkable comeback has earned her a place on Team Scotland, proving that persistence and hard work can keep even the biggest dreams alive.
When Stephanie Kernachan hung up her boxing gloves in 2019, she thought her lifelong dream of competing at the Commonwealth Games was over. But four years after returning to the ring, Kernachan has been called up to represent Team Scotland at Glasgow 2026. The 33-year-old boxer from Port Glasgow truly epitomises the ‘never say never’ mindset.
“I've been boxing for 18 years,” said Kernachan. “I'm 33 years old and to get to a Commonwealth Games has always been one of my goals. When I first retired, I thought, ‘that's one thing I never managed to achieve.’ I’d made a lot of history, but I’d never been to the Games.”
Kernachan’s career has certainly been historic: she was the first woman to box for Scotland at the elite women’s World Championships, the first female British champion for Scotland, and she is a six-time Scottish champion. But fighting at the Commonwealth Games had always proved elusive, and in 2019 Kernachan retired and pivoted to a coaching career. Staying so involved with the sport showed the Scot what she’d been missing, however, and it was not long before Kernachan’s old coaches encouraged her to give it another shot.
“In 2022, I got talked back into boxing again by my coaches,” said Kernachan. “They said, ‘you’ve got nothing to lose, just go for it and see what you can do.’ I never thought I'd even get back into the national squad, never mind get selected for the Commonwealth Games. I’ve been training really, really hard and it’s paid off - I finally got there.”
Despite a few years away from the ring, Kernachan actually found her return less difficult. “It was much easier coming back to boxing because I came in with a different mindset,” she said. “There was no pressure to perform as everything I did was kind of a bonus, so I was enjoying it more. And even though I’m older, I feel fitter and stronger than I did when I was younger. I’m in my thirties and this is the best I’ve felt.”
The veteran brings valuable experience to the Team Scotland squad, having fought at multiple senior World Championships. She hopes to inspire the youngsters, just as she herself drew motivation from previous Scottish boxing legends. “Having people around me that have been to the Commonwealth Games is inspiring,” said Kernachan, who boxes at Falkirk Phoenix Boxing Club. “Charlie Flynn, the 2014 gold medallist, was a club mate of mine, and my boxing coach competed at the 1990 Auckland Games.”
While Kernachan will aim to replicate these achievements this summer, she emphasises that boxing’s impact stems much wider than wins and losses. “Boxing changed my life,” she said. “When I was younger, I couldn't look people in the eye and I didn't have good social skills. But being in an environment where you're encouraged to be part of a team really brought me out of my shell. Seeing how much it can change somebody’s life is why I got involved in coaching. It’s huge for a kid coming in off the street - having somewhere they feel like they belong and learning how to manage their emotions.”
