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Gymshark's moving film chronicles the journey of boxer Ryan Garcia

Gymshark's moving film chronicles the journey of boxer Ryan Garcia

5 (765) · $ 14.99 · In stock

British fitness wear brand Gymshark chronicles the story of Ryan Garcia, an American pro lightweight boxer set to make his return to the ring this weekend, in this stirring new film. An American of Mexican descent, Garcia was born in Victorville, California and aspired to be a boxer from an early age. The new film follows his journey to the ring and how his family has supported him every step of the way, with whatever hardships he encountered. It recreates his younger days, when he wanted to train but was rejected by the local gym—so his dad built one for him at home. There, he relentlessly pursued his sport until the world was ready to welcome him. The piece goes on to depict Garcia hitting the bags and sparring today, prepping for his next big fight with his family still by his side. Interspersed throughout are scenes of other young hopefuls—the new generation he continues to inspire. The voiceover of his father brings emotional punch to each moment. “You’re proof, Ryan, that champions can come from anywhere,” he says. “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about who you are and what you’re prepared to give. There are times you might feel like you’re facing your demons alone, but we are always with you, every second, every session and every step.” “It’s not about where you’re from, but how far you’re prepared to go,” reads copy in the finale. Full of rich detail and strikingly composed scenes, the short was expertly directed by Jess Kohl of Prettybird, who was recently named a Director to Watch finalist for Ad Age’s Creativity Awards. “Condensing his journey into a few minutes was a challenge, but through conversations with Ryan and his father, we managed to bring some of his key moments to the surface, and show how hard he's worked for his achievements,” Kohl said in a statement. She and her crew shot over two days in Los Angeles and one day at the High Desert Boxing Club, where Garcia spent many of his days training. “Seeing his roots felt really important to get under the skin of his story,” Kohl added. Garcia, who has remained undefeated since he began fighting professionally in 2016 at the age of 17, is set to make his return to the sport in a bout with Emmanuel Tagoe on April 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. He had taken a more than 15-month-long break from the sport to tend to his mental health. His story mirrors the modest beginnings of the company he’s promoting. Gymshark was founded in the U.K. as a D-to-C brand in 2012 by Ben Francis while he was still a university student and delivering pies for Pizza Hut. Today, it’s now a £1 billion company, set to open its first bricks and mortar store in London this summer. The brand signed Garcia as one of its athletes more than three years ago. “Over the years, Ryan has worked hard and overcome many obstacles, always crediting his family as his support system,” said Gymshark VP of brand marketing Sennai Atsbeha in a statement. “Since we’re a community-driven brand, Ryan’s grounded perseverance and appreciation for his support network makes him an ideal partner. He was one of the first boxer/combat athletes we worked with, and we’re excited to continue to support him through his journey.”