‘I want to be a dad one day’: Boxer Harry Garside finds solace after shock loss at Paris Olympic Games

Australian boxer Harry Garside has found solace in what the next stage of life has in store outside the ring as he grapples with the disappointment of an Olympic campaign cut short.

Harry Garside has played down concerns about his mental health, revealing he has found love again as he revealed one of his burning life ambitions – becoming a father.

Garside bared his soul like few athletes following his crushing first-up loss to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs on Monday, claiming he felt “like a failure” as he apologised to the Australian public for his shock exit at the Paris Olympics.

The sight of Garside on his knees sobbing uncontrollably, coupled with his brutal self-critique, rang alarm bells that the 27-year-old could fall into a dark place mentally in the coming months.

Hungarian Richard Kovacs defeat of Garside confirmed. Picture: Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

But Garside held a press conference 90 minutes before midnight on Monday in Paris, insisting he has put his defeat in perspective, partly thanks to a blossoming new relationship.

The Tokyo bronze medallist did not reveal the identity of his fresh love interest, but said it has given him genuine hope of becoming a father following his public bust-up last year with ex-partner Ashley Ruscoe.

Garside was arrested at Sydney airport amid allegations from Ruscoe of domestic violence, but a court cleared the boxer of any wrongdoing.

While he remains bitterly disappointed at failing to win gold in Paris, Garside said he would rebound quickly with the support of his family and girlfriend.

“During my athletic career, I struggled to have partners, we are always travelling and moving around,” he said.

“I have never really had the time to fully dedicate myself to a partner.

“But I woke up on New Year’s Day (this year) and said, ‘It’s the Olympic year, let’s go, gold medal, it’s been two decades (since he took up boxing as a seven-year-old)‘.

Garside said the strong support network will help him through the crushing disappointment. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

“In the process over the last seven months I fell in love.

“It happened so unexpectedly and I feel very grateful.

“I don’t know what the next period holds but that person will have my back.

“We are humans. We are animals and love for me is the most beautiful emotion.

“To fall in love with someone, and be at the start, that honeymoon stage is great.”

Hours after his loss to Kovacs, Garside returned to the athletes village. In a social media post, he spoke of his desire to become a dad, and a loving father who wants to help his kids avoid the mental struggles he has waged.

“I want to be a dad one day and I don’t want to pass that onto my kids,” he said.

“It’s a pretty shitty existence. I smile for the cameras, but I hated myself for a long time, but I know I have family and friends who love me.

“The longest relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves.

“Being a dad and not passing on negative things (to his children) is really important to me.”

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Garside has several options moving forward. Just turned 27, he can turn professional, or is still young enough to have a crack at a third Olympics campaign in Los Angeles in 2028.

There is also the possibility he could move into the corporate world given his popularity with sponsors, but Garside is adamant he wants to continue boxing in some form.

“For sure, I love boxing,” he said.

“It’s hard to walk away from a sport that has given me so much.

“I don’t know what it’s going to be, whether it’s professional, the next Olympics or just boxing for fun, but I can’t walk away from a sport that has given me so much. One of my life missions is to get combat sports into the school system.

“I know Australia has my back. I feel so grateful to be Australian right now, but this is a failure for me and I want young people to see that life is hard sometimes, sometimes life knocks us down and it’s challenging, but it’s our choice what we do next.

“I am proud of the work I have done to have a better relationship with myself … and I hope that holds me in good stead.”