PARIS : Australian boxer Harry Garside said he fully intends to stay on at the Paris Olympics to support his teammates, despite his defeat on Monday that left him feeling numb.
Garside, a Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, lost to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs in the lightweight round of 16, ending the 27-year-old’s quest to win Australia’s first boxing gold medal.
The fighter, who has spoken of his mental health battles in the past, cut a dejected figure after the loss and said he felt like a failure.
“It shows what a cut-throat business this Olympic boxing is, doesn’t it? Nine minutes to showcase (what you have) after three, four years of building towards it. It’s a wild sport,” a teary-eyed Garside added.
“All the Olympic events, it’s crazy that it only comes around every four years. For it to be over just like that, I feel very numb right now. I didn’t envision this happening. I could see the gold medal in all my visualisations.
“I’ve just smashed it deep in my face. I’m pretty humiliated right now to be honest.”
Asked if he would stick around for the remainder of the competition, Garside said: “100 per cent. I’m a team man and I want to support my team athletes.
“I truly believe that whatever you turn out of the box, whether it’s a competition for Australia or winning a gold medal, I want to be in the stands when it happens.
“I love that country. We deserve that gold medal. It’s been a long, long time.”
