MORNINGTON Peninsula boxer Caitlin Parker is bringing home a bronze medal after making it to the final four in the women’s 75kg division at the Paris Olympic Games. The win makes Parker the first ever Australian medallist in female boxing.
Parker began her campaign in the round of 16 with a unanimous points decision over Mexican boxer Citlalli Ortíz.
In her round of eight bout, she fought Moroccan boxer Khadija Mardi. The Moroccan was taller than Parker with an impressive reach, but Parker held her own and ended up taking the bout in a split decision. The win propelled Parker into the final four with a guaranteed medal, as the sport awards two bronze medals.
She faced off against Chinese fighter Li Qian on Friday morning Australian time, to attempt to progress to the gold/silver medal round. Parker came out strongly and had Qian’s measure in the first round, the judges awarding the bout to her. But in the second round, Qian gained the ascendancy and secured the second round. Parker never managed to find her first round flair again in the final round, and the win was awarded to the Chinese fighter in a 4-1 split decision.
Parker travelled to the boxing with fellow fighter and Somerville resident Tyla McDonald. They both train at Mornington’s Peninsula Boxing and made sporting history when they both qualified for the Paris Olympics by winning gold in their weight divisions at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. Twenty-one-year-old McDonald was knocked out in the round of 16 after facing Ecuadorian Maria Jose Palacios Espinoza who was better on the day.
The two women are achieving success under the guidance of former boxer and current coach Marcos Armado, who said they worked hard at their fitness and skill and deserved success. Armado said boxing was now “an even playing field”, with female boxers rising through the ranks and showing they have the skill, determination and staying power to make it to the top. Armado said the women supported each other and were both driven by their love of the sport.
First published in the Mornington News – 13 August 2024
