Harry Garside Demonstrates Honesty and Integrity at Paris 2024

The Olympics is an inspiring time as we watch sporting greats from round the world duke it out at the highest levels. Australian Olympic boxer Harry Garside showed us a different kind of inspiration, one we need to see and hear more often. He showed us that you can greet the disappointment of not reaching your goals with honesty and an authentic display of emotions.

Overcoming Heartbreak at Paris 2024

After losing his first-round bout in the men’s 63.5kg boxing, he collapsed crying onto the floor, unable to speak. Harry broke Australia’s 33 year boxing medal drought with a bronze at Tokyo 3 years ago. He had his heart set on gold in Paris but fell short. “As an athlete, you put a lot of expectation on yourself and for the run to be over just like that, yeah, I feel like a failure right now,” he said.

Harry is, of course, not a failure. As a world-class athlete with a magnetic personality, he is undoubtedly an inspiration. Beyond his sporting achievements, his openness about mental health have helped our country have more honest, better informed conversations. He is also a passionate advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community. 

It simply wasn’t his day. As Harry himself said after the match, “life is full of ups and downs”. He talks openly about his feelings of self-doubt and how he overcomes those negative voices in his head to aspire to greatness.

An Inspiration for Australians

Harry has done a lot to expand our idea of strength and toughness, especially for young men. He’s a boxer and a fighter, but also a ballet dancer and plumber. Sometimes he wears skirts and paints his nails. Most importantly, he has shown us the power of losing well. How to deal honestly with the feelings of unfairness, failure and humiliation that come with losses and defeats.

 When you set out to achieve something grand like winning an Olympic gold medal, failing is part of it. Harry Garside showed us what that hard part is like and dealt with it honestly. His attitude and approach makes for a powerful message for initiatives like International Men’s Day and works as an inspiring talking point for mental health speakers throughout Australia. Harry is an incredible sportsman who doesn’t hold back about how he feels, and faces the ups and downs of life with honesty and integrity, something that should be applauded by us all.

Learn more about Harry Garside

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