Boxer Monique Suraci was knocked out of the women’s 50kg round of 16 after losing to Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia in another cruel blow dished out to Australia’s grim Olympic boxing campaign.
Although two cards read 29-28, the other three had 30-27 and Suraci was sent packing from North Paris Arena with a final score of 5-0.
“I’m just heartbroken,” Suraci said after the defeat, according to the AOC.
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“I’m very disappointed in the way I performed and I know I’m capable of doing a lot better,” she continued.
Monique Suraci (left) is out of Paris 2024 after being eliminated in her first bout. Nine
Suraci added: “I know I was capable of medalling so it’s heartbreaking for me, it’s been my only dream for a very long time so having that ripped from you is pretty devastating but I have no one to blame but myself.”
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The 23-year-old, who made her Olympic debut at Paris 2024, has become the seventh Australian to be taken out of the competition in their first bout.
Suraci told the AOC that she believes the fact that it was her Olympic debut may have influenced her performance, noting how it wasn’t her “preparation” but perhaps “the atmosphere”.
“Such a big stage, and performing in front of so many people and my family,” she posited.
Although Suraci – who is a Pacific Games gold medallist and two-time national champion – has bowed out, there’s still hope in the form of Marissa Williamson, who will face off against Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori in the welterweight category early on Friday morning.
Australia sent the biggest boxing team in its history to Paris 2024, and so far, seven athletes have been eliminated in their first bout – including, notably, Harry Garside, who achieved bronze at Tokyo 2020.
“I love Australia to bits, mate,” Garside said after his crushing loss on Monday. “I really envisioned myself winning that gold medal for Australia. I’m just a failure right now. I really thought I could do it. You shoot for the stars, right?”
Garside’s bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago was Australia’s first boxing medal since 1988, and only the fifth in Australia’s history.