Astrid Olsson meets Anna on her comeback trail

Berlin – It’s the afternoon at the gym owned and managed by Maxim Weiß, who coaches Anna Schwartz. A visitor comes in.

It’s Astrid Olsson, from Sweden. She recently moved to the German capital after considering the need for change in her life. A fresh start in the hip hub sounded like the best plan.

She looks around and sees that this is one of the more barebone gyms she ever visited. Basic and clean.

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The coach comes over for a greeting.

Maxim: “Hi, I’m Max. Can I help you?”

Astrid: “Hey! Astrid Olsson, from Sweden. I recently moved to Berlin. Got a job and settled down here. Now I’m looking to return to fighting, if anyone is willing to take me on.”

Maxim: “What do you do for a living?”

Astrid: “I teach fitness classes at Fitness First. They pay better than the other gyms.”

Maxim: “Must be why they’re goddamn expensive.”

They have a laugh.

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The Rebuilder

Maxim: “I’m afraid I’ve never seen you fight. Record?”

Astrid: “I’m 7-4 as a pro, with three knockouts. I’m a swarmer who doesn’t back down. My last fight ended in a loss against Emma McGale, a Canadian. She knocked me silly and I actually thanked her for it.”

Maxim: “Haha, what?”

Astrid shrugs: “I’m not sure why I do silly things besides the fact that win or lose, I love a good scrap.”

Maxim: “Are you shopping around?”

Astrid: “No. This is the first gym I visit because I heard of what you’ve done with Anna Schwartz. I figure I need some rebuilding. It appears you’re good at that.”

The coach scans her body with his eyes. “Solid build, and good tone. Surely she’s been working a lot outside of boxing gyms.”

Maxim: “Do you fancy a few rounds of sparring soon? I want to see you in action.”

The Swedish Sweetheart’s eyes brighten, and she smiles.

Astrid: “Totally! I’ll do it anytime.”

Maxim: “Good. Let me introduce you to your partner, whom you’ll face tomorrow for 3-4 rounds.”

Meatball

They go to the ring, where Anna is doing shadow boxing with gloves on.

Anna: “Have we got new meat?”

Maxim: “This is Astrid Olsson, a Swede who recently moved here.”

Anna: “An Ikea meatball!”

The Ice Queen has a good look.

Anna: “Man, they’re not making them any smaller these days.”

A puzzled Swede asks: “Is she always like this?”

Maxim: “Only when she’s in a good mood.”

Anna: “Don’t get me wrong. You’re a hottie. I was just teasing.”

The Swede thinks: “Some attitude but friendly. I can enjoy a scuffle with her. Or two.”

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Maxim: “The two of you will spar for a few rounds tomorrow. I want to see how Astrid works before taking her on. Assuming that you have gear?”

Astrid grins: “Yeah. Got new gloves to test on Anna!”

Anna: “Let’s see if you have what it takes!”

They show up at the gym at 10:00 on the next day, way before the afternoon classes and sessions.

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Rusty but gutsy

The early going features a dominant Anna. Her partner is rusty after a few months outside of the ring. She takes a few clean shots although the Ice Queen is holding back on power. She works technically and enjoys the control.

Astrid thinks: “I could take these all day. Or maybe not.”

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Astrid finds more energy and will to fire in the second round. She puts Anna under pressure, with constant punching to open up that guard and find open spaces. The best, cleanest shot she lands is a cracking right cross as Anna tries to unload a left hook from the corner.

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The battle intensifies in Rounds 3 and 4. The girls trade from close quarters, exactly what Astrid likes to do. Anna does, however, hold her ground well. She waits and counters accurately. The best punch on target is a right uppercut that she slips under Astrid’s left hook while pulling it back after a miss.

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The Ice Queen provoked

After four action-packed rounds, the ring timer buzzes.

Maxim: “Time!”

Astrid doesn’t hear any of that. She’s loves a fun, rough battle and she’s getting it today. The Swede takes a step forward and cracks the German on the chin just as she drops her hands.

Maxim: “I said STOP.”

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A strike after the bell makes Anna’s blood boil.

Anna: “You motherfuck!”

Before her temper’s temperature comes down, she comes forward and runs Astrid over, bringing her down and falling on top of her.

Maxim: “Ladies, stop it or I’ll kick you out of the gym!”

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Anna gives her sparring partner a look and gets up. So does the Swede.

Astrid: “Erm. I’m sorry. I hit after the bell. Shouldn’t have. I got carried away. Good takedown, though!”

The German laughs.

Anna: “Well, I have been learning Thai boxing. This one wasn’t a technically good move, but still efficient. I shouldn’t have done it either.”

Maxim: “Shit happens in the ring. What’s important is for you guys to learn to get along. You’ll have to, because Astrid is joining our gym. I think I can build her up nicely.”

Astrid: “Cool! Welcome to our gym, meatball.”

Maxim: “For your punishment, though, you will both do five rounds of power shots on the bag. I expect discipline in my gym even when you feel like having a flare-up. Then maybe you should lunch together.”

Anna: “Only if she can eat vegan.”

Astrid: “Not one of those tofu freaks?”

Anna: “You betcha. It just has to be well cooked to be delicious. I can show you that.”

Astrid: “Hmm. Alright. I’ll sneak a meatball in there.”

Maxim: “Enough chat. Bag time!”

Astrid Olsson
Astrid Olsson
An original character created by Alex and now part of Alesia's world, she loves a good scrap no matter what happens in it.