Why Australian boxer Harry Garside is willing to go back into debt to chase his gold medal dream at the Paris Olympics

A bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games was not enough for Australian boxer Harry Garside. He wants gold in Paris and has turned down the riches of going professional to have another crack.

Bronze medal-winning Australian boxer Harry Garside is willing to put himself back in debt to chase an Olympic gold medal after delaying his move to the professional stage, where he stands to make millions.

Speaking on the En Route to Paris podcast, Garside reflected on his difficult decision to turn his back on big dollars to win gold in Paris.

The Victorian dabbled in professional boxing following his success at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and won all three fights, two by knockout.

However, a “disconnected” feeling within himself prompted him to put Olympic glory before money.

Garside is taking a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to his Paris Olympic ambitions, money is irrelevant. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC.

A contented Garside is now locked in to succeeding at the Olympics this year in the men’s lightweight division.

“I wanted to go for the gold, so I walked away from professional boxing even though I knew I’d be turning down money and opportunities to set myself up for life,” said Garside, who at Tokyo became the first Australian boxer to win an Olympic medal in more than three decades.

“But in the process of doing that, I reconnected to myself again.

“I’m so happy. I reconnected to that young boy who was seven and inspired by Olympians like swimmer Grant Hackett and diver Matthew Mitcham, who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.

“Moments like that (with Mitcham), I’ll never forget, and I’m really grateful that I’ve made the decision (to go to Paris).

“Olympic athletes don’t earn much money. I went to the Olympics (Tokyo), won a bronze medal and I was in debt.

“But the most important thing is I feel connected to myself again now that I have chosen the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

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Garside said part of him felt comfortable after winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

He thought the “bronze” was enough, which is why he briefly turned to professional boxing.

On reflection he said that was a mistake.

“The reason – and I’ve thought a lot about it since 2021 – is that I went on the Olympic journey to win an Olympic gold medal and not a bronze medal,” said Garside, who is training three times a day in the lead-up to the Olympics in July.

“I turned my back on myself because I turned professional thinking the bronze medal was OK.”

Originally published as Why Australian boxer Harry Garside is willing to go back into debt to chase his gold medal dream at the Paris Olympics