“Yes, I’m doing this for myself and my family and Brian (trainer) but I also hope there’s a generation of youngsters watching us, to see us win gold and inspire them for 2032 at a home Olympics,” Garside said on the eve of the Games began.

Since then, the weight of expectation on Garside has grown enormously. He is the last Australian left in the competition.

In Garside’s previous round he dispatched Jonas Jonas of Namibia, the No.2 seed, with a superbly polished performance.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist is a young fighter on the rise. With 33 fights to his name, Garside uses magnificent head movement and classy footwork to make his opponent miss and counters with exceptionally fast hands.

Kazakhstan’s Zakir Safiullin is his latest opponent. A 34-year-old veteran of 90 fights, producing 68 wins and 22 loses.

Safiullin also has the advantage of an additional day’s rest, having won his round of 16 contest in a walkover when his Japanese opponent was forced to withdraw.

For Garside, none of that matters in his quest for the gold medal that has eluded his country throughout Olympic history.

“I’ve been visualising it every day. I can see myself with that medal. My heart palpitates, the adrenalin is pumping.

“Australia deserves a gold medal in boxing.”

Garside very clearly remembers the moment he fell in love with the Olympics.

“Grant Hackett did it for me in 2004. I was only seven and I didn’t fully understand the meaning of the moment, but watching all my family absolutely captivated made me want to do something that inspired everyone.”

He has already done that with the round of 16 victory. Soon after Garside looked to the camera with a message for home: “I love you mum, love you dad, love you Brian - three more to go.”

Brian Levier, his veteran trainer, turns 79 this year and is on the verge of producing an Olympic medallist.

“I’ve been with him (Brian) since I was nine, he’s 79 this year.

“It’s crazy to think I’m here, it’s been a long journey. I failed to make the last Olympics, but now there’s three to go.”

Asked how tough it was preparing through the pandemic with gyms locked down, Garside was typically philosophical.

“It was tough last year for sure, grateful I’ve got a boxing bag at home. You don’t need much.

“You look at some of the third world countries and I see how they train, they are resilient, so I took a leaf from their book.”

With no crowd in attendance, one thing you could hear during the fight were the voices of Garside’s teammates.

“150% I could hear everything they were saying. I wish they were still in the competition.

"A few tough decisions for them, but I’m flying the flag for Australia and I really want that gold medal.”

Jon Harker