In perhaps the biggest night in Australian Olympic boxing history, Caitlin Parker and Charlie Senior will both fight under the famous Roland Garros lights for a spot in an Olympic final.
Both boxers have been clinical in their respective bouts at the Paris Olympics, and both are hungry to create Australian Olympic history and win Australia’s first ever Olympic boxing gold medal.
“I feel alive,” Caitlin said. “If you look at me in the corner my eyes widen up and I do weird facial twitches, but that’s just me.
“That's my essence I'm bringing. That's my life like on the line.
“I know that I’m just going to throw everything I can.”
Charlie added that he has shown what he is capable of and is confident of going all the way.
“I've been put in front of the best my whole journey and lead up to these Olympics and I've fought top opponents,” he said. “They're not easy opponents and I'm out here and doing what I can and I'm winning.”
Both Charlie and Caitlin face tough opposition in their semi-finals, with both going up against their divisions top ranked boxer.
Caitlin will take on Li Qian of China in the women’s 75kg, while Charlie go against Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov in the men’s 57kg.
Win or lose, they are both guaranteed an Olympic medal, with the losers of the semi-finals awarded a bronze, while the winners will fight for either gold or silver on August 10.
It is the first time since Rome 1960 that Australia has claimed two boxing medals at the same Olympics.
Charlie’s bout against Khalokov begins at 5.30am AEST while Caitlin’s bout against Li starts at 6.02am AEST.
This article was originally written for The Australian Olympic Team. You can read the published version here
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