Olympic debut for Aussie women's boxing

24 Jul 2012, 12:30 pm   -   Source: Kate Stowell, SBS
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Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen, right. (Getty)

Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen, right. (Getty)

Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen from WA is about to make Olympic history as Australia's first, and only, female boxing representative.

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SBS reporter Kate Stowell is at training with Australia’s Olympic boxing team in one of the sport’s famous heartlands - Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Seeing Olympic athletes train up close gives you a whole new appreciation for their physical fitness.

On TV, you don’t see the true amount of sweat, nor the repetitive training drills nor the many, many hours spent strategising and sizing up the competition.

In Belfast this week, the Australian boxing team has been doing just that.

It’s Australia’s biggest-ever team, and it includes a woman for the first time.

London 2012 will see the debut for women’s boxing with competition expected to be fierce between fighters from the USA, Azerbaijan and Russia.

28-year-old Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen from Western Australia is Australia’s sole representative.

She says she hadn’t always planned on being an Olympic boxer.

“I did martial arts for 7 years as a teenager,” she said.

“I originally started boxing just as something extra to add to the martial arts.

But I was fascinated by boxing and I didn’t give karate a second thought once I stepped in the ring”.

Fischer-Rasmussen says boxing isn’t for everyone, but hopes more girls will get to see it this Olympics.

“It’s a tough sport, an all-or-nothing sport but the fact that you are getting the ring each time and facing your fears, it’s addictive, putting yourself on the line, finding out what you’re made of”.

Training alongside Fischer-Rasmussen in Belfast is captain of the Australian team, 27 year old Luke Jackson from Tasmania.

Four years ago he didn’t even make the team for Beijing. A final round defeat during qualifying saw his chances disappear.

2012 saw better results and now says he’s feeling confident ahead of the first day of competition this weekend.

“My preparation has been great. I’ve been sparring really well and had some good performances overseas the last couple of months.

I’m ready for it. I’ve put my whole life into this, the last 6 to 8 years have been all about this moment and I just can’t wait”.

Jackson says the Ukrainians are the ones to beat, with tough competition also expected from the Russians and Cubans.

Australia has never won a gold medal in boxing

Jackson says the team’s mission is to “break the drought”.

“But it’s not going to be easy, we’re not kidding ourselves,” he adds.

The Australians are doing their final week of training in Northern Ireland alongside their rivals from Cuba, Ecuador and Argentina.

It’s a rare opportunity for Northern Ireland sporting officials to have top-flight athletes visit the country.

It’s all part of a push by London 2012 organisers to make sure the whole of the UK is part of the Olympic experience.

Belfast has a proud history of success in international boxing, boasting several Commonwealth Games medals. 

Sean Ogle from Sport Northern Ireland says the city’s working-class roots and the efforts of a few dedicated individuals has made boxing one of the country’s most successful sports.

“Way back since the 1940s and 1950s, it’s been a great diversion away from all the other things that take kids into not the most productive areas of life.

It’s a combination of a strong history, good coaching and a real commitment from some of the boxers themselves”.

It’s not just boxers training in Belfast, the Chinese gymnasts are here, along with track and field stars from Africa and the Middle East.

Mr Ogle says hosting the athletes is a big deal for the city.

“This has never happened before. We’re learning everyday this goes on, thinking ‘Wow, all these countries are in Northern Ireland’.

It’s a fantastic thing, what a thing for young boxers here to see lots of top-level boxers on their doorstep. They can look up to those boxers and say ‘if they can do it, I can do it’”.

The boxing starts on Day One of the Olympics.

Listen: Aussie Olympic boxing team captain 'hopeful'

London Olympics , Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen

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