One of Australia’s top boxers posts throwback photo to his childhood as he nears the ‘biggest event of my life’ – so can you tell who it is?

Most Australian sports fans will recognise this young man as the mature boxing star he is today, but they will find it hard to recognise him when he first started in the sport.

The fighter in question took to social media this week to celebrate how far he’s come and reflect on his journey in preparation for the biggest fight of his career.

In the photo he is seen holding a boxing trophy, together with experienced boxing trainer Brian Levier – the same coach he has with him today.

Do you know who it is?

That’s right, it’s Harry Garside, Olympic bronze medalist and Commonwealth Games winner.

The now 26-year-old man posted the image on Instagram this week, along with a recent photo and a message to his thousands of followers.

“Weeks away from the biggest event of my life and taking a moment to reflect on the ride,” he posted, referring to the Paris Olympics.

‘From a little boy who was inspired by Grant Hackett winning the 1500m final in 2004. From nearly losing more fights than I had won by the age of 18. From countless failures to make the Australian Olympic team. Twenty years later, here we sit.

Garside went on to say that he was an extremely insecure and weak boy and that he placed great value on the approval of others.

Harry Garside is pictured recently as he prepares to go for gold at the Paris Olympics

Garside reflected on how far he had come since he was a child as he prepared for potentially the biggest test of his career

“I had no idea what my life would look like when I walked into that gym, but I’m so glad I did,” he continued.

‘The last 18 years have been the wildest journey, a journey of self-discovery, pushing myself in ways that young Harry didn’t even know were possible.

‘I know I said I was afraid to be myself, insecure and weak, but I was all of those things only because I had no idea who I was or what I was capable of.

“I was on the verge of quitting the sport in 2022, but I’m so thankful I didn’t.”

Last month, Garside reflected on the ordeal of his 2023 domestic violence trial, crediting boxing with giving him clarity during that turbulent time.

The boxing champion was arrested by New South Wales police in dramatic scenes at Sydney airport as he returned home with his father after filming reality TV show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in South Africa.

Police dropped charges against the 26-year-old man in a Sydney court after his lawyers presented video evidence they said showed his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Ruscoe, was the alleged aggressor during an incident on March 1.

Garside had maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, but he admitted it was an ordeal.

Garside (pictured during a professional fight in 2022) says he nearly retired from the sport in 2022 but is grateful he stuck with it

“My hands are sweaty now,” he joked when asked about the criminal case in The Project.

‘It was tough, there’s no denying that. I think it was very therapeutic to… I distracted myself with the Olympics to get through that, to disconnect from it, which I think I needed [do].

Garside has been writing a new book between training sessions for the Paris Olympics and says the exercise allowed him to calculate everything.

I think I need to sit down and really go through it and [say] “What happened?” I tried to numb it as best I could.

“It was just what I needed to get through it and focus on the Olympic gold medal.”