Boxing 4th July 2024

Final Olympic Preparations Underway for Record-Breaking Australian Boxing team

Boxing

2024 has been an action-packed year-to-date for the largest Australian Olympic Boxing team in history, after 12 boxers secured qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games back in December 2023.

With the team departing Australia tomorrow for their final pre-Olympic training camp in Germany, we reflect on their journey to Paris since qualifying at the Pacific Games.

The Olympic year started with two multi-nations camps, the first at the AIS in January, the Australian group joined by teams from Philippines, Sweden, Tonga and eight additional Australian boxers. After a few weeks rest, the Olympic group was off to Germany for their first international trip of the year, spending two-weeks training with 10 national teams in Kienbaum.

An opportunity arose to host Brazil for a dual-nations camp at the AIS in March. 12 Brazilian boxers travelled to Australia for the camp, including nine 2024 Olympic qualified and multiple Olympic medalists. This activity significantly enhanced the Australian’s Olympic preparations, replacing a domestic training block with 10 days alongside a world class boxing nation. Two days of duel-matches were hosted at the AIS Combat Centre, Australia performing incredibly well to win 8 of 11 bouts on Day 1. Many of the Brazilians improved sharply for Day 2, Australia winning 5 of 11 bouts on the final day.

A highlight of the competition was Callum Peters (M80kg) turning the tables on his opponent who defeated him in the 2023 World Championships quarterfinals, defeating him twice, unanimously on Day 1 and by split decision on Day 2.

Teremoana Jr Teremoana (M+92kg) came up against a Tokyo 2020 medallist who defeated him in Bulgaria in February 2023, Teremoana defeating him twice across the weekend. These results highlighted the general standard of improvement over the past year across the Olympic group.

The team returned to their home environments after the Brazil camp, before travelling to the USA in April for a multi-nations camp in Colorado Springs, followed by the USA International Invitational. This was the team’s first official tournament since the Pacific Games, the highlight being Teremoana’s gold medal performance with two R1 stoppages in his two bouts, the final against the same Brazilian opponent as the AIS duel-matches in March. Caitlin Parker (W75kg) and Monique Suraci (W50kg) performed well, reaching the finals but both losing to world champions to claim silver.

Teremoana was pleased with his three wins over Brazil, “It felt very good. It is awesome to see the different fighter I have become from when I lost to him, to now.”

Asked about his aspiration for the Olympics, Teremoana said, “The plan is to go in and [continue to] do what I’ve been doing. I believe in my ability and will prove that I am the best when the day comes.”

The Eindhoven World Boxing Cup (Netherlands) was held in May, the final tournament for the team prior to the Olympic Games. Nine Australian boxers competed and despite limited quality and depth in some divisions, the team performed incredibly to secure nine medals, including five golds to Monique Suraci (fighting up at W54kg), Shannan Davey (M71kg), Caitlin Parker, Teremoana Jr Teremoana and Callum Peters, who also won the Best Young Boxer Award. Marissa Williamson-Pohlman (W66kg) and Charlie Senior (M57kg) lost their gold medal bouts to claim silver, with Tiana Echegaray (W54kg) and Tina Rahimi (W57kg) taking home bronze.

Following the tournament, the team travelled to Sheffield, training at the English Institute of Sport with their Olympic team, as well as England and Scotland national teams.

A final domestic camp in Brisbane has just concluded, with the team departing for Germany on July 9^th. The final pre-Olympic training camp will be held in Saarbrucken alongside other Olympic Boxing teams.

Team Captain, Caitlin Parker is excited for what’s ahead for this group of boxers. “The team is flying and in high spirits right now. Since qualifying at the Pacific Games, we have been fortunate to travel to multiple international training camps and competitions that has kept pushing us against the world’s best.”

“I am so proud that I have been able to watch the remarkable growth in every single person on the team. They are more than ready to bring their absolute all to Paris and represent Australia with pride.”

The 2023 World Championships silver medallist has made significant progress since the Tokyo Olympics.

“In Tokyo, I went down to Panama’s Atheyna Bylon. I faced her again at the 2023 World Championships and reclaimed that victory. To not only be able to feel the progress that I’ve made but to demonstrate it on the world stage was gratifying.”

“I’m so excited to step out there and showcase my skills to the world. This is my moment to shine!”