Australian boxer Anja Stridsman wins 60kg gold after defeating Achilles injury thanks to donor

IN one of the most courageous displays of the Commonwealth Games, Australian boxer Anja Stridsman has taken gold thanks to a unanimous points decision and some crucial help from beyond the grave.

IN one of the most courageous displays at these Commonwealth Games, Australian boxer Anja Stridsman took gold on Saturday fighting with an Achilles tendon from a cadaver in her knee.

And in a huge upset, 20-year-old Melbourne plumber ``Dirty’’ Harry Garside took a 3-2 split decision over Indian hotshot Manish Kaushik for gold in the men’s 60kg division.

Garside showed all the class and skill that his coach Brian Levier first saw in him as a nine-year-old, with two judges giving him a 30-27 shutout.

Anja Stridsman reacts after defeating Paige Murney of England in the women’s 60kg boxing final. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The 31-year-old Stridsman boxed brilliantly to win a unanimous 5-0 decision over England’s Paige Murney for the 60kg gold medal in her first tournament since a knee injury threatened to end her career.

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In her three fights on the Gold Coast, Stridsman never lost a round, a testament to the brilliant coaching she receives from Joel Keegan on the New South Wales Central Coast and to the work by national coaches Kevin Smith and Shara Romer.

Stridsman migrated to Australia from Sweden 11 years ago for study and took up boxing eight years ago just to get fit.

Harry Garside of Australia (Blue) on his way to gold against Manish Kausjik of India. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

``It’s so amazing,’’ she said. ``I proved so much to myself. After the injury we had a crazy idea we could still get to the Commonwealth Games. We did it but it was a rocky road getting here.

``When it got really tough I just kept fighting and that’s what got me here today.’’

World champion Jeff Horn, ringside for the fight, said Stridsman had fought a brilliant tactical fight, maintaining the perfect distance for defence and attack in beating Murney 5-0.

“She was always just out of reach from the English girl,’’ Horn said. ``But she was able to land her jab and right hand really well. It was a great performance and she showed enormous courage to come back from her injury.’’

Stridsman won all three rounds on the scorecards of two judges, who tallied 30–27. The other three judges scored 29-28, giving the Englishwoman the final round as a reward for a spirited fightback.

Anja Stridsman lands a right hand against Paige Murney of England on her way to winning gold. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Two months before the Commonwealth Games trials last year, Stridsman tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a fight in Poland.

She and Keegan continued to train together even though Stridsman could barely walk.

She won the national title in Sydney in November all the while fearing that her leg would collapse on her at any time. She then paid $13,500 to have surgery, replacing her damaged knee tendon with an Achilles tendon from a corpse.

The operation worked.

Silver medallist England's Paige Murney, gold medallist Australia's Anja Stridsman, and bronze medallists Nigeria's Yetunde Odunuga and New Zealand's Troy Garton. Picture: AFP Photo/Anthony Wallace

Stridsman, who works as a graphic designer, is the second Australian woman to win Commonwealth boxing gold, with her arch foe Shelley Watts taking out the same 60kg event at the 2014 Glasgow Games.

Explaining how she started in boxing Stridsman said: “I was curious. I worked close to a boxing gym and was playing soccer and got sick of getting rained out all the time. So I gave it a go and instantly wanted to see how good I could get.’’

The answer was “very good’’. She is now a strong medal chance for the women’s world championships in Delhi late this year.

Originally published as Australian boxer Anja Stridsman wins 60kg gold after defeating Achilles injury thanks to donor