‘Depression Is Not Something That Just Disappears’ – Shir Cohen Opens Up About Her Sister’s Struggles
Shir Cohen is competing under ONE’s bright lights not only for fame and acclaim – but also to fulfill a promise to her family back home in Israel.
On June 6 in U.S. primetime, the rising star will challenge Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 32 on Prime Video.
As the 24-year-old Cohen prepares for that massive World Title showdown at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, she is carrying a uniquely deep and personal motivation.
She recently opened up to onefc.com about her younger sister’s mental health struggles:
“Last year, not long before my fight with Amy [Pirnie], my younger sister, she tried to take her own life. So she’s struggling. After that happened last year, I went home to visit her, just to give her hope and give her some encouragement.”
Cohen’s 18-year-old sister suffers from depression, and her battle has profoundly impacted the entire family.
A Road to ONE tournament winner who has enjoyed a sensational 3-0 start to her ONE Championship tenure, the Fairtex representative has been forced to balance her booming fight career with supporting her sister from over 4,000 miles away in Thailand.
Understandably, that long-distance relationship has been difficult. But Cohen knows depression is a constant battle, and she’s not about to give up on her sister:
“She’s better today, but still it’s not something that just disappears. Depression, it’s not something that just disappears. It’s still there, you know. Some days are better, some days it’s really bad. I can tell.”
Despite the distance between them and Cohen’s demanding training schedule, the atomweight Muay Thai contender has worked hard to maintain a solid connection with her sister.
They speak on the phone multiple times daily, often immediately before and after training sessions. Those conversations are critical lifelines for the siblings, creating an important support system.
Cohen said:
“Every day, I talk with her, even before training. I talk with her right after I finish training. Even when I’m still in the gym, I’m packing my stuff, straight away, I call her. I feel like I’m with her even though I’m not physically there.”
An Unbreakable Bond
Shir Cohen’s bond with her sister runs incredibly deep.
The martial artist sees much of herself in her younger sibling – a fact that keeps their connection strong even in the toughest of times:
“She’s like a mini-me, and everything that she’s been through in the past, I’ve been there, and same with me. I’ve been through things, and she’s been there.”
This sister-to-sister connection has felt almost supernatural at times. Cohen vividly recalls having an unexplainable urge to call home at the precise moment that her sister was in crisis.
Her journey in combat sports is about creating a better future for her family rather than personal gain, and her upcoming World Title shot at ONE Fight Night 32 is an opportunity to achieve something great, and in turn, help those she loves the most.
For now, Cohen is holding her connection with her sister close as they both dream about brighter days ahead:
“When we talk, we talk about our dream to be together in the future, and maybe she will be able to come here, and we’re planning many things to do in the future. I know it gives her something to hold on to.”
