‘A Dream Come True’ – Stella Hemetsberger Relives Her Life-Changing Journey To ONE Championship

Austrian striking sensation Stella Hemetsberger stands on the precipice of making history for her entire nation.

The 26-year-old will challenge Jackie Buntan for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship in the main event of ONE Fight Night 35 on Prime Video on Friday, September 5.

Her path to gold has been marked by determination, family support, and an unwavering commitment to excellence that has led her to the brink of being her country’s first ONE World Champion.

Before she squares off against the reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion inside Bangkok, Thailand’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium, we look at her road to the global stage.

Simple Beginnings, Strong Foundation

Hemetsberger grew up in a hardworking household in Salzburg that emphasized the values of discipline and perseverance above all else.

Her father worked at an office nearby while her mother built a career in sales, creating a stable environment that allowed the young Austrian to explore her interests without financial pressure or family drama.

She recalled:

“The lessons I have learned both from my mom and dad from a young age are that I just have to be disciplined and work hard to achieve my goals. It’s simple and straightforward — if I want to achieve something, I have to put in the work.”

As an active child, Hemetsberger threw herself into various sports and physical activities.

Though she never settled on one particular discipline, the Salzburg native always maintained an energetic approach to staying fit while having fun.

She said:

“I did gymnastics for a while. I was playing football. I loved climbing a lot, hiking, skiing, all kinds of sports, but nothing professionally. I just liked doing different kinds of sports for fun.”

An Accidental Discovery That Changed Everything

Hemetsberger’s introduction to Muay Thai came through pure chance. What began as a simple desire to try boxing led to a life-changing discovery at a gym just 10 minutes from her house – a place she still calls home to this day, RS-GYM.

The Austrian, then only 13, was immediately hooked from the very moment she stepped on the mats.

Despite being a complete newcomer, the Salzburg native admits she took to the art like a hot knife through butter:

“I felt like I was picking up things quite quickly. From learning combinations to punching or kicking, it just felt as if it was something I had been doing for quite a while.

“But, you know, there are always aspects like this punch can be better, or this kick can be stronger, or the cardio can get better. But since I was a very active kid, I’d like to think I didn’t struggle too much for that.”

The coaching structure at RS-GYM during her formative years provided the perfect environment, which kept the young and eager Hemetsberger coming back for more.

One class led to another. From mastering the jab to grinding out six-piece combinations. Shadowboxing then turned into sparring. And so it went.

The more hours Hemetsberger spent hammering her kicks and elbows through the heavy bags, one thing became more apparent:

“I just really had fun doing it, and I wanted to learn more about it. And because I had fun doing it, I wanted to get better at doing it.

“Then just one thing happened after another. Eventually, my coaches [Roland Schwarz and Christin Fiedler] convinced me to give fighting a try. From there, it just flowed naturally.”

Early Days In Her Muay Thai Career

Her competitive journey kicked off through the amateur ranks, where she honed her skills against the best fighters across Europe and beyond.

Despite facing the usual rollercoaster ride most young athletes face, the RS-GYM affiliate, who also represents Thailand’s Phuket Fight Club today, didn’t have second thoughts about embarking on the journey of Muay Thai.

She offered:

“I was always fighting a lot more experienced opponents. I had a lot of losses at the beginning of my amateur career. But I just took it as a motivation to get better and to train harder, and to make sure I don’t lose as much and always keep my mind locked in on the positive stuff.”

Hemetsberger’s amateur success culminated in capturing the WAKO K-1 Championship and earning gold in the women’s 60-kilogram bracket at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

Though she had amassed plenty of experience in the amateur ranks, turning professional was a whole new ball game. The stakes and intensity reached new levels that tested her mindset just as much as her physical skills.

The Austrian shared:

“Before my first professional fight, without a doubt, I was very nervous. I mean, I’m always nervous – the good kind of nervous before any fight – but that one felt different. But the moment I tasted the first fight professionally, I knew this was going to be it for me.”

ONE Friday Fights Breakthrough

Despite nerves being present at the start of her professional bow, Hemetsberger powered through. The Salzburgian went on to rack up an impressive 5-1 resume before calling ONE Championship her home.

Through ONE Friday Fights, the RS-GYM and Phuket Fight Club athlete had the perfect stage for her global aspirations inside a fitting venue – Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.

Needless to say, the 26-year-old continues to love every minute of it:

“It has been a surreal and super cool experience because everything here is super professional. Everything is organized extremely well, which, as a fighter, helps you settle into your fights more easily.

“It’s the biggest organization I can possibly fight (for). I’m proud to say that I have the chance to experience fighting in ONE Championship.”

Having attained three successive victories, including a first-round knockout of Vanessa Romanowski that earned her a US$100,000 contract and a spot on the main roster, Hemetsberger now has the chance to leave the Thai capital with gold wrapped around her waist and spoil Buntan’s two-sport dreams.

The magnitude of potentially becoming Austria’s first ONE World Champion adds extra motivation, as she prepares for what is the most important fight of her career.

She concluded:

“It would be a dream come true [to win the ONE World Title]. It would be amazing. Fighting for this is already such an achievement. And if I can end the night with the biggest title possible in this sport, it’ll be even more amazing.”

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