Harry Garside

Biography

Harry Garside's journey into boxing started at the age of nine, defying expectations and earning him the nickname 'the whimp' among his family. Growing up with Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe posters on his bedroom ceiling, the Olympic spirit was ingrained in him early on.

Harry's boxing career kicked off at Lilydale Youth Club, where he was often underestimated. Despite losing 10 of his first 18 fights, these early setbacks fueled his determination. In 2015, Harry won his first Australian National Championships, marking a turning point in his career.

He struck gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the men's 60kg division, dedicating the win to his coach, Brian Levier, who played a pivotal role in his development. Harry swears by the mantra, 'wake up and be better than yesterday,' incorporating unique training methods like two-hour ballet classes to enhance his agility and form.

Harry made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, competing in the lightweight division. His impressive performance saw him become Australia's first Olympic boxing medallist in 33 years. After Tokyo, he went professional, securing three wins and the Australian lightweight title in 2022.

Despite a detour into reality TV, where he finished second on 'I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here,' Harry's Olympic dreams remain alive. His walkover win at the 2023 Pacific Games has secured his spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he aims to make history as Australia's first boxing gold medallist.

With a relentless drive for excellence, Harry Garside is set to change his bronze medal to gold and achieve his ultimate dream.