5 min read
Sport
Exclusive
Meet the palawa boxer who became an Olympian at 19
Daniel Geale began boxing at nine years old. Just a decade later, the palawa man was selected to represent Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games.
Published
By Michael Rennie, Rachael Knowles
Source: NITV
Image: The 19-year-old missed out on gold at the Sydney Olympics. It spurred his hunger to be the best. (EPA/Rolf Vennenbernd)
Daniel Geale was only 19 when he was selected to represent Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
But the young boxer was missing amongst the Australian delegates at the Opening Ceremony.
Instead, he was curled up in bed, watching on television.
"I unfortunately didn't get to go to the Opening Ceremony because my fight was the first night of competition, which was the night right after," he told NITV.
"I could have gone ... but I chose [not to]. My fight was probably a little bit more important!"
The palawa man started boxing at nine years old in his hometown of Launceston. He had his first amateur fight a year later.
Ten years on, Geale was an Olympian.
"Part of the selections for the Olympics was to win gold at nationals, and then move onto the Oceania Games and win gold there," he said.
"I had those goals set for many years before, and to achieve those goals was huge, it was amazing. My friends, family and everybody supported me the whole way through."
Geale began boxing at nine years old. A decade later, he was selected to represent Australian in the 2000 Olympic Games. Credit: EPA/Rolf Vennenbernd
For a 19-year-old fighter just coming out of Tasmania, it was a huge experience.
"It was a feeling that I never had before walking anywhere in Australia. Everybody was talking, everybody was happy," he said.
"As an Australian athlete, we didn't have any clothes that were normal. We only had the Australian team gear.
"So, we'd be walking in the street in our free time and we'd be in the Australian tracksuits. Everybody would come up and stop you and say good luck.
"It made you feel like a celebrity!
"For a 19-year-old fighter just coming out of Tasmania, it was a huge experience, and a huge eye opener."
The Olympic journey
Geale was rubbing shoulders with athletes he idolised in the Olympic Village, including world-renowned Russian-Australian professional boxer, Konstantin Borisovich "Kostya" Tszyu.
"Just before the Opening Ceremony, Kostya Tszyu came into the village and had a chat with us fighters," he said.
"I remember looking around at all the fighters, we were all just sitting there in awe."
He still remembers the impact Kostya's words had on him.
"I definitely took some of the words that he said, and carried them, not only in the Olympics, but through my career as well," he said.
"All of us had the ability and the potential to reach wherever we wanted to go ... I knew at that stage, all I needed to do is just keep working hard, keep pushing.
"I knew that way I would give myself the best chance of being successful."
For years, Geale committed to honing his skills. All in hope of becoming one of the world's top fighters. Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Despite his best efforts, he lost the fight.
"It was always going to be tricky, especially being a young fighter and the pressure of the Olympics. I was the first Australian to fight as well," Geale said.
"I didn't fight the best I could possibly fight, but I fought pretty well against a pretty tough opponent. It was very close, but unfortunately I didn't get the decision."
It was a career defining moment for the young star.
"It was a huge learning curve for me. If anything, it grew my hunger. I just wanted more, and I wanted to keep competing.
"I wanted to keep getting better."
Geale got gold
The hunger helped Geale continue his career, reaching new heights of success.
"Being able to represent Australia at the Olympics gave me a huge boost of confidence," he said.
"I went to many other tournaments after that ... and when the Commonwealth Games came around, I was a couple of years older, about 21.
"I was in a certain prime in my life. I felt the best I'd ever felt, the strongest I'd ever felt."
At 21, Geale won boxing gold in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, UK. Credit: Michael Bradley/Getty Images
"I was extremely proud. There was so much hard work that went towards that," he said.
"There were disappointments along the way. Obviously some fights, you don't get your hand raised at the end of the day.
"But it was just a matter of persevering and training harder - getting better each time."
Training the next generation
Geale's last professional fight was in October 2016.
Having hung up his boxing gloves, the 44-year-old now coaches the next generation of fighters.
"I just enjoy coaching, I enjoy helping people out," he said.
"I'm fortunate enough to have some good, young fighters training with me. But if anybody is keen to train, I'm keen to pass on my experiences.
"I've been through a lot of stuff, I've seen a lot of stuff. If I can help people out and improve their boxing skills, then I'm going to do that for sure."
Geale's last fight was in 2016. Now, he trains young fighters. Credit: Matt Roberts/Getty Images
"There were some great sports going on around us, anywhere you went people were just happy," he said.
"It was very inspirational. Obviously Cathy Freeman, she had so much pressure on her to win. But it was amazing watching that race.
"Thinking back on in now, I'm still getting goosebumps!"
Listen to our podcasts
Interviews and feature reports from NITV.
A mob-made podcast about all things Blak life.
Get the latest with our nitv podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.
Watch on NITV
The Point: Referendum Road Trip
Live weekly on Tuesday at 7.30pm
Join Narelda Jacobs and John Paul Janke to get unique Indigenous perspectives and cutting-edge analysis on the road to the referendum.
#ThePoint
