Paris medalist Caitlin Parker reflects on her history-making 2024 Olympics

Caitlin Parker won the nation’s hearts when she became the first Australian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal. She has now revealed the golden phone secret which is driving her toward LA in 2028.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Bronze Medallist Caitlin Parker of Team Australia poses on the podium during the Boxing Women's 75kg medal ceremony after the Boxing Women's 75kg Final match on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Caitlin Parker sits down at her local café and is met with an unexpected surprise.

A sign sweeps across the front of the beachside entrance, welcoming the Olympic medalist home.

It typifies the “overwhelming in such an amazing way” in which Parker has been greeted back from a historic Paris Games.

“I didn’t know that was there until just now, you’d think I had done that on purpose,” Parker laughed.

Parker had expectations both internally and externally to medal – and she did – becoming the first Australian female boxer to stand on the Olympic podium.

But it’s the signs, well-wishes from strangers in the street and watch parties that have matched her Olympic high.

“Once I got home I sort of crashed because once you’re up here for so long, you’re going to have to come down eventually,” she said.

“But ever since I have been home I have just felt an overwhelming amount of support and love, it’s been incredible – I am still just soaking it up.

“I have had so many people stop me on the street and congratulate me, it’s crazy, I never would’ve thought that many people would actually tune in and get behind me.

“I am glad to be able to share that with everyone now as well.

“I don’t feel different, I feel exactly the same, but I am just proud of myself because I did it and it’s so nice to feel the recognition after years of hard work.”

Caitlin Parker celebrates on the podium . (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Parker blitzed through Mexico’s Citlalli Ortiz and Morocco’s Khadija Mardi before going down to eventual gold medallist China’s Li Qian in the semi-final.

There were only two fighters in Parker’s division she hadn’t fought before the Olympics and they were Ortiz and Mardi.

Ortiz posed the challenge of being much smaller than Parker while Mardi drops a weight class in Olympic years.

Parker reviewed her first two fights but is yet to watch her medal fight, knowing she will be “too negative”.

She said she would run over the fight harshly as she knew she was capable of winning gold and “manifested it” between Paris and a disappointing result in Tokyo.

“My phone lock screen was a gold medal for years … I just wanted to manifest it from as early as I could,” she said.

“And on the screen I had ‘make gold medal decisions everyday’ to remind myself that everyday counted towards the big one.

“I know that I did everything I could in the fights and in the preparation before that, so the colour doesn’t bother me, I wanted the gold, I came home with bronze, I am proud of myself.

“I will learn from this experience and improve and will still be manifesting the gold for LA.”

Parker is set to headline a documentary on the Paris games called We Are Combat. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Parker’s commitment to an Olympic medal went well beyond lockscreens.

She trained three times a day, missed countless social events and ran raffles at her local pubs to raise money.

With Commonwealth Games and Los Angeles gold in Parker’s mind, there’s work to be done.

Right now Parker is working on her defense – not from punches but from herself and those habits she ingrained into herself.

“I went a couple of months before the Olympics without chocolate because chocolate is my addiction, I love it so much,” she laughed.

“I just said to myself ‘you have to sacrifice it’, I knew it wouldn’t have made much of a difference and I believe balance is key, it’s about proportions but I wanted to do this for myself.

“Although I do feel quite fresh and I could go back to the gym, I need to give myself a good break so I can just enjoy my time at home with my friends, partner and my dog.

“I have missed so many of my friends and family’s major events: I was the maid of honour at my best friend’s wedding and I had to do a video speech as I was in the Solomon Islands qualifying for the Olympics, I missed my parents’ 60ths.

“It’s time to give back.”

Parker makes her way to the ring in Paris. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

As Parker hasn’t returned to the ring or reviewed her medal fight, a decision on her future sits a mile away.

Wearing the green and gold has become a part of her and she wants to do it again between other challenges.

“I haven’t made the decision myself, I want to explore the decision with my coach,” she said.

“LA is definitely something I want to do but before that I think we want to explore some options, maybe some pro fights but I want to train with the Australian team.

“I have fought for Australia for the last 13 years, I feel like I would like to give myself a bit of a challenge of something new – it’s scary but I want to try it.”

Parker won two fights in Paris. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Parker was a born and raised Western Australian.

Growing up in Gosnells, a small town 20km southeast of Perth, is where she learnt to box.

But the signs taking over cafés and community support have her locked in as a Victorian.

“My family is about to move over and live with me, I have become a part of the community and the community has been such an amazing support to me – I have never felt anything like it … I am both.”