Australian boxing captain Caitlin Parker’s bid for an Olympic gold medal is over after losing her semi-final fight with China’s Li Qian at Roland Garros on Thursday night.
Parker — a clear underdog in the women’s 75kg boxing bout — made a perfect start and won her first round 5-0.
But the Chinese fighter turned it around, Li Qian with a 5-0 second round and landed some heavy shots in the third round that bloodied Parker’s nose and forced a stoppage.
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Parker fired back with some free swinging but the Chinese favourite won on every card to secure a brilliant comeback, unanimous victory.
There are no third-placed fights in the Olympics, meaning both beaten semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.
“Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking,” commentator Andy Raymond said on Nine.
“Caitlin Parker you are a superstar … it’s been a great journey.”
Parker is still the first Australian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal, but it was one good round from being either silver or gold as an upset brewed.
She joined Australian compatriot Charlie Senior (men’s 57kg boxing) in settling for rare Olympic boxing bronze.
The 22-year-old Senior (who making his Games debut) also went down to highly rated Uzbekistan fighter Abdumalik Khalokov in the semi-final.
No Australian has ever won an Olympic gold in boxing, with the two defeats meaning the 120-year hunt will continue through to the Los Angeles Games, should boxing win a place on the program as hoped.
“I’m proud of myself for making Australian boxing history, I said I was going go to war and I did, I left everything out there,” Parker said.
“I wanted that gold medal so badly and it’s been my screensaver on my phone and for the four years I’ve worn nothing but gold.
“I literally haven’t worn silver or grey for the past like two, three years.
“I’ve manifested it so badly and I really I truly thought I could do it, but I didn’t and you know what, I’m proud.
“I did it for Australia and I know that I will come back stronger.”
Senior’s medal was just the seventh in Australia Olympic boxing history.
He won the second round on one judge’s card and one round on another judge’s card in the final round as he tried valiantly to lay a glove on the razor-sharp Uzbek.
But the Uzbek otherwise cruised in a 5-0 win, Senior replicating Harry Garside’s bronze in Tokyo three years ago that ended Australia’s 33-year wait for a boxing medal.
“When he’s punching you in the face, it’s a bit hard to switch up that quickly,” said Senior, who thought it was a closer fight than the card reflected.
“I just didn’t start quick enough and then once you get the lead you need to something amazing to change the perspective.
“To win bronze is a good way to put it. Normally I would have said, ‘Yeah, I was just the second loser’.
“But I’ve been optimistic; I came here, I’ve done things that people dream of and I’ve got a medal for the tally.”
It was the record 12-strong team’s best Olympic showing in 64 years and just the second time they’ve collected two medals in one campaign.
“Harry (Garside) started it last time, this time we’re coming back with two medals,” Parker said.
“Next time we’re going to come back with more and more. Australian boxing, we’re going to be like the swimming, we’re going to be bringing those medals in.”
– With AAP