Celeste Hansen has never lived what most would consider a normal life, but she doesn’t. Since birth, the Australian has followed a different path than most of his peers and now it has led him to the world stage of martial arts at ONE Championship. Hansen will next return to action against Yu Yau Pui in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout at ONE Friday Fights on August 29, 18, and the up-and-coming striker will be hoping to cement herself as one of the fastest-rising-stars in the division with the second win. Before she steps into the ring at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, let us learns all about the 29-year-old and her amazing journey to ONE. Scroll down to Read How Celest Hansen Become A Muay Thai Pioneer.
How Celest Hansen Become A Muay Thai Pioneer
Early Life On The Road
Most biographies begin in the hometown, but Hansen never had one. The Aussie striker grew up traveling the country in a caravan with his family as they moved from place to place with tour companies. That meant schooling was at home or on the road, and she learned the value of hard work from the start.
Hansen once said that she had a very difficult childhood. She said, “[My family] does a lot of different things. We sell strawberries and ice cream and chocolate and stuff like that. We also have carnival games — balloon shooting, coke spinners, basketball.”
The time came when Hansen had to be more serious about his studies, so his parents enrolled him in boarding school at the age of 11. It was a major lifestyle change for the young man, one he resented at first but later enjoyed even before graduating and returning to his traveling roots.
Shamed Into Trying Muay Thai
Hansen was exposed to boxing growing up, but martial arts was never on his agenda. However, at the age of 21, she was forced to exercise after someone made fun of her weight. And although he liked the idea of boxing, the gym he went to only offered Muay Thai classes, so he tried that instead. The trainers at the gym said Hansen would need at least six months of training to compete, but he had to get moving again and there was no time to wait.
Instead, he asked about the idea of taking the sport more seriously in his home country. On the advice of the coaches, the keen entrepreneur traveled to the island of Koh Samui in 2016. She then never looked back.
Fighting For A Better Life
Moving to Thailand to follow a very raw but strong desire to succeed in Muay Thai changed Hansen’s game. Before the move, she drifted through life without ambition, drinking heavily and not taking care of her body. Only when he felt his true purpose did he see an opportunity to get rid of his vices. That’s not to say that Hansen’s life in the fight has always been easy.
Relationships went wrong. The global pandemic threw his plans into a tailspin. And he wasn’t always looking for someone for his good. But after all those ups and downs. The talented forward found a new team at the Fairtex Gym in Pattaya. It was led by founder Philip Wong. There he finally feels both at home and respected.
Aiming For The Top In ONE
With the right team, Hansen believes in his ability to make a huge impact on the world of Muay Thai. She has already broken new ground by competing in the first women’s Muay Thai match at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in 2021. The Australian then went on to win Road to ONE: Thailand and earn a spot at ONE Friday Fights in ONE Championship.
Now, after two impressive 2-0 ONE wins, Hansen knows he is in the right place to continue his growth. And when he meets Yu this week at the iconic Bangkok venue, he will give it his all to continue his incredible rise in the sport.
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