Boxing
Luke Jackson, Boxing.
copyright © Boxing Australia
Olympic history (pre London 2012)
Boxing gained Olympic status in St Louis in 1904, in a nation where it was very popular. All the competitors in the St Louis boxing tournament were Americans. From 1904 onwards, except for Stockholm in 1912 where it was prohibited under Swedish law, men’s boxing has been an Olympic sport.
Women’s boxing has been added to the London 2012 Olympic Games program with three weight categories, 51 kilograms flyweight, 60 kilograms lightweight and 75 kilograms middleweight. This will be the first time women’s boxing has been included on the Olympic program.
Summary of past Australian Olympic team results
- Australia’s first Olympic boxer, and silver medallist, was the famous sporting all-rounder Reginald “Snowy” Baker in London in 1908.
- In the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Australia had their biggest boxing success with 2 bronze medals to Oliver Taylor (bantamweight) and Anthony Madigan (light heavyweight).
- Australia’s other silver medal came in Seoul 1988 by Grahame Cheney (light welterweight). Australia has not medalled since, but is striving to in London 2012.
