Cuba, a nation that boasts more Olympic gold medals for boxing than any other country, has a long-standing ban on females participating in the sport. Stemming from the late wife of Raul Castro, Vilma Espin, the ban has proved to be unsuccessful in preventing women from training. Espin, who feared that Cuban women would risk ruining their beauty by participating in such activities by causing damage to their features, has only inspired generations of female fighters and rule breakers. This documentary follows one such woman, who has dedicated her life to a seemingly unattainable victory.
Namibia, a loyal Cuban native, has spent most her life dreaming of winning an Olympic gold. Now, at age 39, she has reached the limit of being able to participate in the Olympics. While she has been encouraged by her peers to leave Cuba and fight under another nation’s flag, Namibia has stayed true to her heritage and kept an admirable hope despite fighting continuously against all odds.
In this film, Namibia shows us the humble life she’s created, all, in order to chase her Olympic dream, should the Cuban Boxing Federation approve the long-awaited policy change. When she isn’t working, Namibia spends much of her time training at the historical Havana gym, El Trejo, a cradle of Cuban boxing champions. Due to the regulations, Namibia trains primarily with men, some of them professional boxers and Olympic medalists, as the fast approaching deadline seems to be ignored by the entities that could lift the ban.