BOXING: The residents of Perth and the New South Wales Central Coast had plenty to cheer about when boxers Caitlin Parker and Satali Tevi-Fuimaono fought their way onto the Australian Youth Olympic Team.
Parker becomes the first Australian female to represent Australia at the Youth Olympic Games after women’s boxing was introduced at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Sixteen-year-old Tevi-Fuimaono enters the YOG ring as a fortified contender for gold, having won the International Boxing Association World Junior Titles in Kiev last year.
This dynamic pair finished second (Parker) and fifth (Tevi-Fuimaono) in the middleweight classes at the 2014 Youth Boxing World Championships in Bulgaria to secure their places at the second summer YOG in Nanjing, China this August.
“I was happy overall, but maybe I could have done a little bit better in the quarter-finals. There’s always room for improvement,” two-time National Champion Tevi-Fuimaono said.
The Central Coast boxer follows in the path of Damien Hooper, who won gold at the 2010 YOG in Singapore and represented Australia at the London Games.
The teen who shocked Russian favourite Vitaly Bakhmatov at the 2013 World Junior Championships wants to become the first Australian to win a gold medal in boxing at the Olympic Games.
“This will be a stepping stone on my path and I hope to do very well at the Youth Olympics,” he said.
For 18-year-old Parker, finishing as the proverbial bridesmaid in Bulgaria this year has only fueled her motivation for glory at the YOG.
“I was happy with my performance, although there are a few things I can, and will, improve,” a driven Parker said.
“Overall I am happy with my results, but I will be aiming for gold come Nanjing.”
Parker knows how to go the distance. She has won three national crowns, including one senior national title, is a two-time Golden Gloves winner and has won numerous State titles.
“It is a dream of mine to be at the top of the podium at the Olympics and this is a major step towards this goal,” Parker said of the YOG.
The talented athletes are currently training for the YOG at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. The three week camp involves training three times a day and a bout against the Scottish boxing team as part of their preparations.
Parker understands it is a tough task, but she is very excited about the challenge of the YOG in August.
“It is very exciting knowing I am going to compete for my country at the highest level that I can possibly achieve at this point in time,” Parker said.
Boxing takes place the last week of the Games from 23 – 27 August 2014 at the Nanjing International Expo Centre Hall D.
Phillip Brent
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
2014 Australian Youth Olympic Team – Boxing Section:
Name (age)
Caitlin Parker (18)
Satali Tevi-Fuimaono (16)
