The history making squad also includes the first Indigenous woman to box for Australia at the Olympics in Marissa Williamson Pohlman, the first Muslim Australian woman to box at the Olympics in Tina Rahimi and the first woman to box at two Olympics for Australia in Caitlin Parker.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Harry Garside and World Championship silver medallist Caitlin Parker return for their second Games, while Monique Suraci, Tiana Echegaray, Tina Rahimi, Tyla McDonald, Marissa Williamson Pohlman, Teremoana Teremoana, Shannan Davey, Callum Peters, Charlie Senior and Yusuf Chothia all make their Olympic debut.

Ngarrindjeri woman Williamson Pohlman and South Australian Peters are the first Indigenous athletes selected for the Australian Olympic Team for Paris.

The 12-strong team eclipses London 2012 (11 athletes) as Australia’s biggest ever Olympic boxing team, as well as the most female boxers Australia has sent, with the six women to compete in Paris tripling the previous high of two at Tokyo 2020.

The team highlights the breadth of diversity in Australian boxing, with the team ranging from 20-30 years old, hailing from all five mainland states, featuring athletes with Indigenous, Pacific Island, European, African, Middle Eastern and South American heritage.

The fighters qualified for Paris by winning the Oceania qualifier at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, with the team nominated by Boxing Australia and officially selected by the AOC today.

Taking the selected Australian Olympic Team size to 37 of an expected final team of 460 to 480 athletes, the boxing team is the largest to be announced to represent Australia in Paris so far.

Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission Anna Meares announced the boxers’ selection today, with the boxers in Canberra for a two-week training camp and competition bouts against Team Brazil.

“Congratulations to this history making team,” Ms Meares said. “To qualify our largest ever Olympic boxing team, and tripling our largest ever female representation is an amazing feat.”

“This achievement is a reflection on each of the 12 athletes, their families, coaches, supporters and of course the fantastic work of Boxing Australia and CombatAUS to nurture and develop athletes to achieve their Olympic dreams.

“This team has already achieved a number of firsts, but I know they are working tirelessly to write their own chapter of Australian sporting history in Paris. The camaraderie and focus of this team is clear to see and I look forward to following their progress as they prepare for Paris.”

Twenty-two-year-old Ngarrindjeri woman Marissa Williamson Pohlman said representing her country and her people at the Games was an immensely proud achievement.

“It feels amazing, this is a dream come true for me, my family and my community. To be the first Indigenous woman to qualify for the Olympics in the sport of boxing is one of the biggest achievements of my life. I know there are young ones looking up to me and I take that very seriously. 

“To my people, to my community, thank you for backing me, I know I have a whole community of blakfullas supporting me, I can feel all the love already. To my parents, because of you I can. To my coach, thank you for making me the person and fighter I am. I can’t wait for Paris, I know there will be a whole country behind me. 

“Boxing is one of the toughest sports in the world - if you don’t laugh, you’ll certainly cry. The team needs to be a safe, fun, professional space to grow, which it has. This is a testament of the national head coach Santiago Nieva’s commitment to us and our team culture.”

Garside won bronze in Tokyo, Australia’s first boxing medal since 1988, but is chasing even more in Paris.

“My second Games, I’m going to be so much smarter this time, more mature,” Garside said. “The lessons I’ve learnt over the last three years have been invaluable and I’m so grateful to make a second Olympics.

“My goal is a gold medal. We got a bronze in Tokyo, and as athletes we always want the best. I know I’ll be the best version of myself come Paris.

“As athletes its really important to be clear the direction you’re walking in and every day I’m trying to grow and be better than I was yesterday.

“It’s so good to be part of such a massive team, such a great mix. We’re a massive chance to have our most successful Games ever. This group – everyone believes they can do something and it’s really exciting and infectious to be around.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Rahimi, who only started boxing aged 21, said it still felt surreal to know she’s booked her place in Paris.

“I still have so many emotions knowing I’m going to the Olympics,” Rahimi said. “Even as we get closer it still just feels unbelievable. It’s been such an overwhelming response since I qualified, just so much support. It feels so valuable to be able to represent our communities. 

“It’s really empowering to know there’s people around the world that look up to us, see us breaking barriers, to know we’re capable of doing anything, while staying true to ourselves. I’ve found people will respect you for staying true to yourself.

“There’s so much respect in this boxing team, that help us to lead by example. This team is so tight, we’re each other’s family, and we’re coming for it all in Paris!”

Boxing Australia CEO Dinah Glykidis welcomed today’s announcement.

“Boxing Australia is extremely proud of the accomplishments of all our boxers on what they have achieved so far,” Ms Glykidis said.

“This team has already achieved Australia’s largest Olympic boxing team size, equal gender balance and diverse backgrounds which showcases what Australia is all about. We are looking forward to watching them represent Australia on the Olympic stage.”

CombatAUS CEO Alex Vallentine congratulated the athletes on their selection.

“We’re incredibly proud, in partnership with Boxing Australia, to see these twelve athletes selected to the Australian Olympic team for Paris. An exciting blend of experience and youth, with genuine medal contenders across the divisions,” Mr Vallentine concluded.

The boxing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 10 August at the North Paris Arena in Villepinte and at Roland-Garros Stadium in Paris. Some semi-finals and all finals will be held at Roland-Garros Stadium.