Inspiring UWE Bristol alum fights for equality in her sport to empower other women
A UWE Bristol biomedical science alum who became the UK's first female to compete in Burmese bareknuckle boxing has shared how competing in a male-dominated sport has motivated her to inspire and empower other women.
Nicola Barke, who achieved a first-class degree at UWE Bristol, is known as the Burmese Python when she enters the Lethwei ring, a form of Burmese martial arts in which she currently ranks at number two in the world.
Ahead of International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March 2025), Nicola described how the sport has given her courage and self-confidence. She said: “Lethwei has taught me to manage my mindset. Instead of feeling like the underdog and seeing the male dominated environment as a negative, I flipped it on its head. I thought: ‘I've got an opportunity to represent lots of other women who are going to be coming through’. It motivates me to work to the absolute best of my ability.”
Now a highly successful athlete in her sport, Nicola’s called for equal opportunities with her male counterparts. She continued: “Whether that be actual opportunities or even just pay as a female athlete. I speak to a lot of male athletes, and they never have to negotiate or barter for a fair salary.”
Nicola also juggles her job in the banking industry as Global Transformation Manager at HSBC, managing a team of 170 staff. But life has dealt her many challenges along the way: she was born with narcolepsy, survived a life-threatening car crash and has battled post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2023, she also discovered she had a brain tumour.
Nicola’s tumour was confirmed to be benign and she was able to continue competing in her much-loved sport. She’s now turned to coaching, with the aim of empowering other women through sport.
She continued: “In my work, I see females who want to progress on the ladder, but they don’t ever feel like they are a valued voice or see a way to progress that’s authentic to them. That’s why I’m passionate about empowering women through coaching. We need more inspiring and authentic leaders, fighting for change.”
A decade on, Nicola still looks back on her time studying in Bristol with fond memories. She said: “My years in Bristol are by far some of the happiest years I’ve lived and I always think back to those days with a smile. I made lasting friendships in and out of university and am grateful for all the moments that helped shape the person I am today. To this day, UWE Bristol gave me some of the most genuinely happy, fun, loving days of my life.”
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