- Harry Garside couldn’t hide his Olympic grief
- The Australian lost in the men’s boxing event in Paris
- Garside felt he had let the country down after his defeat
Harry Garside could not hide his sadness when his 20-year-old dream was shattered in just nine minutes at the Olympic Games.
The 27-year-old Garside lost in the round of 16 by unanimous decision to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs, a surprise result given that the Victorian had won bronze in Tokyo and was aiming for gold this time.
The popular boxer had to cut short his media work after initially saying he had let his country down.
“I feel like a failure,” Garside said.
‘It’s a wild sport, and after three years it’s already over… I feel very numb, I didn’t expect this to happen.
“I love Australia and I really expected to win that gold medal for Australia.”
Garside, who has been open about his mental health struggles, previously admitted in an interview with Nine that he is worried about the coming months as he comes to terms with his defeat.
‘I feel pretty numb right now, but I think the next month or two are going to be quite challenging and tough.
Harry Garside has shared his heartbreak after seeing his Olympic dream shattered
The Australian was knocked out in the round of 16 of the men’s boxing
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‘I’m scared of my mind, it’s taking over and I feel like I’ve let a few people down. But what do you do?’
‘Australia is such a sporting country and I regret that very much.
‘I feel like a failure right now. I don’t even know what to say.
“I know that athletes just have to say the right thing right now and I’m very grateful for that, but deep down I fear for what the next few months will bring,” said a visibly devastated Garside.
“I know there will be dark times ahead, mate. I need to be prepared for that now.”