Australia’s CAITLIN PARKER is a member of World Boxing’s Athletes Committee. The 28-year-old secured qualification for her second Olympic Games when she won gold at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. Here she talks about her motivation for joining World Boxing’s Athletes Committee, the importance of being in the Olympic Games and the influence of her parents.
Q: Why did you choose to join World Boxing’s Athlete Committee?
A: I am a member of the Combat Australia Athlete Advisory Committee and was previously a representative for Oceania on an international boxing athletes committee, so I am really pleased to be part of World Boxing’s first Athlete Committee.
I take on these opportunities because it is important to me to work towards a better future for our sport. I strive to listen, observe, build connections and provide opportunities for athletes and our community to be stronger, more respectful, and support each other.
Q: What would you like to achieve in your work with World Boxing?
A: It is important to me that the athletes’ voice is heard and appropriate actions are taken when needed. I want to positively contribute as much as I can to the future of boxing and to play a part in keeping boxing as part of the Olympic Movement. One step at a time.
Q: Why is it so important that boxing continues to remain part of the Olympic Movement after Paris 2024?
A: Although I was young at the time, I remember when I first learned that women’s boxing was being introduced to the Olympics for 2012 and my eyes were immediately set on it. I knew I wanted to represent Australia on the world’s biggest sporting stage. It inspired me and I don’t want to see that get taken away from future generations of boxers.
Boxing is one of the oldest sports in the world. Many legends of the sport – including the biggest of them all, Muhammad Ali – came through the Olympics, so the sport would undeniably be damaged it was not part of the Games. It would break the hearts and shatter the dreams of many people.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your career as a boxer and why?
My parents instilled the core values of hard work and dedication into me from a young age and I learned about the importance of hard work and sacrifice from them. As a young person I was always involved in sport so I understood how it benefits people and it certainly helped me to develop self-confidence and grow as a young person.
I began boxing early, at the age of 11 and my Dad played a big part in getting me into combat sports as he refused to let me walk to school by myself until I earned a black belt in Taekwondo! Dad has worked two jobs, seven days a week for most of my life and my mum worked multiple jobs to keep the household running and to be able to put me in sports. She would sell her delicious home-made pies to fundraise to be able to send me to nationals and different tournaments. They would still come to training every night to support my brother and me.
My drive and motivation is to not only do well for myself but to do well for them, so that they know their sacrifices were worth it.
Q: What has been the highlight of your boxing career so far?
Qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time was the happiest moment of my life. It was my childhood dream finally came true!
Q: What are you most looking forward to at Paris 2024?
I am looking forward to captaining the Australian Boxing Team to hopefully our most successful Olympics yet. I am also looking forward to fighting in front of a crowd – unlike the Tokyo Olympics – and being able to fully immerse myself in the Olympic experience.