Norman's Story
Norman Stevens was born in Innisfail, Queensland, in 1958 and emerged as one of Australia’s leading amateur boxers. He won the Australian featherweight championship in 1978 before moving into the lightweight division. Stevens was 21 when he represented Australia at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games.
Stevens was the only Indigenous member of the Australian team in Moscow. Boxing in the men’s 60kg division, he was outpointed in the opening round by Yugoslavia’s Geza Tumbas and placed equal 17th. The split decision by the judges was met with some disapproval from the watching crowd.
Only two Australian boxers competed in Moscow, with Stevens joined by fellow Queenslander Benny Pike. Stevens later entered the professional ranks, contesting 18 bouts between 1983 and 1986. His Olympic appearance continued a proud tradition of Indigenous Australian representation in boxing.
