Commonwealth Games 2018: Skye Nicolson’s emotional boxing gold medal

ON a day of tear-jerking emotion Skye Nicolson won Commonwealth Games gold on Saturday night in memory of her two boxing brothers who died before she was born.

Australia's Skye Nicolson is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Picture: Anthony Wallace

ON a day of tear-jerking emotion Skye Nicolson won Commonwealth Games gold on Saturday night in memory of her two boxing brothers who died before she was born.

The 22-year-old golden girl from Yatala outpointed Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh 3-2 in a desperately close battle for gold in the 57kg division, capping Australia’s best ever boxing performance at a Commonwealth Games.

Melbourne’s Harry Garside and Anja Stridsman from the New South Wales Central Coast also won gold with Victorian heavyweight Jason Whateley and Perth’s 75kg fighter Caitlin Parker taking silver.

The Australian team finished with three gold medals, two silver and three bronze.

The previous boxing record was three gold and a bronze at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

Skye threw her arms heavenward and leapt about the ring in celebration.

Aussie boxer @SkyeNicolson wins gold against Northern Ireland's @michaelaw57 by split decision 3:2. Download the 7CommGames app: https://t.co/TgYtxal6kC #7CommGames #7News pic.twitter.com/qZ2miNdjp1

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 14, 2018

She dedicated her gold medal win to her brothers Jamie, a Barcelona Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and 10-year-old Gavin, who were killed in a car accident on the Pacific Highway at Helensvale in 1994 while on their way to boxing training at Nerang.

Skye was born the next year as her parents, father Allan, who was 45 at the time and Pat, who was 42, tried to heal their broken hearts.

While she never met the two boys, their memory has shaped Skye’s life. Her parents established a boxing club in their backyard in their memory and Skye began training there just for fun a decade ago when she was 12.

Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh (in red) in battle with Australia's Skye Nicolson. Picture: Anthony Wallace

Nicolson celebrates her victory at the Oxenford Studios venue on the Gold Coast. Picture: Adrian Dennis

Nicolson with family after winning gold. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I have no words. I’m so excited right now, over the moon,” Nicolson said.

“The best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.

“I’m so glad I got to enjoy the moment with mum and dad and thinking of (brother) Jamie (Olympic boxer who died in a car crash) 100 per cent.

“I’m so glad I got this gold medal for my family and for him.”

The glamorous youngster with the model looks and catwalk grace had sparred with Walsh at the AIS in Canberra in the lead-up to last night’s showdown and was always confident she had her opponent’s measure.

Nicolson ahead of the Games. Picture: Mike Batterham

And overcome with emotion on Saturday night. Picture: Dan Peled

It was a close tussle but Skye’s speed and slick southpaw moves set up one of the great stories of these Games.

“I always knew it was going to be a tough fight and a chess match,” Nicolson said.

“I always hoped I would meet her in the final. We were both wanting to draw each other in.

“I just took the chance and be the one that went forward. She’s a great boxer.”

In one of the most courageous displays at the Games, 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.

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

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

She and coach Joel 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.

Victorian heavyweight Jason Whateley took silver yesterday, dropping a 5-0 decision to slick Kiwi David Nyika, his long-time nemesis, in the 91kg final.

Last night Caitlin Parker lost 4-1 to Canada’s Lauren Price at 75kg.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Skye Nicolson’s emotional boxing gold medal