Ferocity In The Circle, Peace In The Alps: The Two Worlds Of Stella Hemetsberger
ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger finds clarity in two places: on the global stage of ONE Championship, and high above it — somewhere close to the clouds.
The Austrian buzzsaw, her country’s first-ever titleholder in the world’s largest martial arts organization, trades punches for a living before swapping the gym for mountain trails. It’s a rhythm that’s kept her grounded — violence and peace, fighter and hiker in perfect balance.
On Friday, February 13, Hemetsberger will step into Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium with a chance to complete her two-sport dream in the main event of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video. She will challenge Jackie Buntan in a rematch, this time for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.
In Thailand, Hemetsberger rarely takes a day off. Her days in Asia are normally centered around fight camps and making the most of her time training alongside ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues at Phuket Fight Club.
Even when the 27-year-old does step away from the mats, it’s usually just a casual trip to the beach for a quick mental reset.
But back home in Salzburg, life moves differently. “Always Hungry” swaps pad work for hiking boots and trails that wind through some of Europe’s most breathtaking terrain:
“Back in Austria, I love to spend time in the mountains a lot. We have a lot of mountains and lakes, which are all very scenic. When I’m there, I like to just go hiking and that sort of stuff.”
Austria’s landscape provides the perfect playground for someone who craves both physical challenge and tranquility.
From short, accessible trails that deliver stunning panoramic views to demanding multi-hour climbs that test endurance in ways the gym never could, Salzburg and its surrounding regions offer something for everyone.
And the RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club affiliate knows exactly where to take you, depending on what you’re looking for:
“It really depends on how fit each individual is. But we have a very short one, which is called Schober. There’s another nice trail near my city, in Salzburg, which is the Untersberg. But this is a bit more of a hike and a bit more demanding. So, if it’s someone [active], I probably would take them to Untersberg.
“If someone’s just starting, I would take them to the shorter ones, but they’re both beautiful. On one, you have the landscape around, all the lakes — we have a lot of lakes. And then the other one, you can see the city, and it’s very nice, too.”
Summer Trails Call After World Title Mission
If she can achieve two-sport glory in Bangkok on February 13, Stella Hemetsberger already knows where she’ll be heading: straight back to the Austrian Alps, where the only thing she needs to conquer is the next summit.
It’s the perfect reward for the Salzburgian, who moved to 4-0 on the global stage when she stunned Jackie Buntan to claim the vacant strawweight Muay Thai crown at ONE Fight Night 35 last September.
The 27-year-old reflected:
“It’s very nice being outside surrounded by nature. I just love the outdoors so much. It’s a very nice contrast to being in the gym.”
The contrast couldn’t be more stark.
Inside the gym or in the ONE ring, everything is calculated — every movement deliberate, every strike thrown with intention. On the mountain, none of that matters.
There’s no opponent to outsmart, no game plan to execute, no pressure to perform. Just the rhythm of your breath, the steady climb, and the reward of standing at the summit knowing you earned the view.
For Hemetsberger, that mental reset is priceless:
“Hopefully, I get some time to go hiking during the summer. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and friends again when I get back home, and yeah, go hiking and catch up with everything else.”
