BOXING: A great performance from Caitlin Parker this afternoon at the International Expo Centre saw her claim bronze in women’s middleweight.
After yesterday’s semi-final loss to Elzbieta Wojcik (POL), Parker wanted to leave the bronze medal bout with something to show for her amazing effort throughout the past few days.
“It was just about going out there and boxing my best. Christina is a tough opponent, so I’m glad I came away with the victory today,” she said.
The Perth teenager came out firing from the start landing multiple jabs and hooks to build confidence throughout the bout.
The Judges scored the bronze medal bout 3-0 to the 18-year-old with all judges scoring it 10 points to nine in each round.
Parker knows that this win couldn’t have happened without the support from back home and here in China.
“The support has been great. Thanks to my coach back home, Peter Wilkinson, my coach here in China, Mark Wilson and also Joel Keegan,” Parker said.
Parker will receive her bronze medal tomorrow after the gold medal bout between Elzbieta Wojcik (POL) and Nien-Chin Chen (TPE).
“To compete at the Youth Olympic Games for Australia and win the first female boxing medal it’s an honour,” Parker said.
“My life is on hold for boxing and I’ll be working even harder when I get home to achieve my goal of making Rio.”
Parker’s goals are ones that Australian coach Mark Wilson says is very achievable especially based.
“Caitlin goes into the elite next year and I firmly believe with the right development from here on in she is a big medal hope at Rio,” he said.
“I believe she can qualify and maybe win a medal for Australia at Rio.”
In the men’s middleweight 16-year-old Satali Tevi-Fuimaono from New South Wales beat Finland’s Kalle Kallioinen 3-0 to place fifth at the Youth Olympic Games.
Like his Aussie teammate Tevi-Fuimaono beat his component convincingly with all judges scoring it ten points to nine in each round.
Nevertheless Tevi-Fuimaono says the bout like the whole competition wasn’t a walk in the park.
“It was definitely a tough fight, the Finnish boy is very strong, very fit, very tall so it definitely wasn’t a walk over fight and I am very happy with the outcome,” he said.
“It’s been a strong competition and I’m just glad to be where I am right now representing Australia so I am feeling pretty good.”
With his YOG experience having drawn to a close young Tevi-Fuimaono says the whole experience has been a real opener, one that has motivated to work towards Rio and bag Australia’s first gold in boxing.
“I guess the major thing that I have learnt is just how much the Olympics means. To come out here and represent Australia has just been the highlight of my life at the moment, it’s been great,” he said.
“It just chucks fuel on the fire to get out there and hopefully win Australia’s first gold. I have a lot of tough competitors like Caitlin Parker she’s racing for it as well so whoever gets there gets there but it has definitely really fuelled my ambitions.”
For now Tevi-Fuimaono has his sights set on the Youth Commonwealth Games next year which coach Wilson says he will be a red hot favourite to win gold at.
Overall Wilson says both athletes did Australia proud and their performance is really encouraging for the future of Australian boxing.
“We’ve had great success in the junior youth over the last few years and it just means that we have athletes capable of beating the best in the world and now hopefully, with the right development, they can transition into elites.”
Phillip Brent and Laura Judd
Olymics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
