Ex-Champion Wrestler Beats Addiction, Now Helps Others Heal

A former British freestyle wrestling champion who battled crack cocaine and alcohol addiction is rebuilding lives in Warrington, starting with her own.

Domi grew up in a loving family but lost her father to heroin addiction at age seven. Even as a young athlete training six days a week, she felt like something was missing, a void she later tried to fill with substances.

After achieving national wrestling glory, Domi hung up her boots at 16 due to politics in the sport. She turned to alcohol to cope with the sudden loss of purpose and the anxiety of coming out as gay. By 21, the party lifestyle consumed her completely.

When Domi finally admitted to doctors she was using crack cocaine, she faced judgment instead of help. That cold reception only deepened her shame and made recovery feel impossible.

After one devastating binge, she entered rehab for six months with no phone and no distractions. The experience stripped away everything familiar and forced her to rediscover who she really was.

Sunny's Take

What saved Domi was finding Pathways to Recovery Warrington, where staff treated her like a person named Dominique, not a case number. The program gave her daily structure, genuine connections, and the belonging she'd chased her whole life.

Now she's paying it forward in the most beautiful ways. Domi started an initiative writing anonymous notes of kindness and gratitude, leaving them around Warrington as reminders that someone cares. She helps other women in recovery reconnect with their children and find their voices.

She's training to become a therapeutic counselor and hopes to attend university. The biggest gift has been rebuilding trust with her family, especially her mum, who now attends Al-Anon meetings to better understand her daughter's journey.

Domi's message to anyone struggling rings clear: nothing changes if nothing changes. She encourages people to reach out to friends, family, or support groups like Pathways, Narcotics Anonymous, or Alcoholics Anonymous.

Her story proves that compassion saves lives where judgment fails. You don't need to be an expert to help someone in crisis, you just have to care enough to see the person behind the pain.