If, like me, you were captivated by the feats of the Australian athletes at the Olympics, I’m sure this thought crossed your mind: years and years of training, hard work, sacrifice and dedication boils down to mere seconds on the world stage. And then, in an instant—it’s over.
For those Olympians who walk away without a medal, it’s hard to imagine the weight they carry. The weight of expectation, of coaches, family, friends…a whole nation.
But one of the moments that resonated with me most wasn’t a gold medal victory—it was the raw vulnerability of Australian boxer Harry Garside.
After a tough loss in the quarter final, Harry’s reflections were profound. “Two decades dedicated to one dream, and it’s over just like that. Honestly, I feel like a failure.”
That was his first interview still ring-side just moments after his loss. A day later, he joined the Channel 9 team on the Today Show to offer a different perspective.
He spoke not only of the immediate disappointment but also of the deeper sense of what real success looks like—beyond medals and titles. Harry emphasised that true success comes from self-worth, kindness, and how we treat others.
In my view, the lesson young Harry shared is one of the most mature and emotionally intelligent expressions of candour that one could hardly anticipate from someone just 27 years old.
Here’s just a few insightful reflections we can all take away from this incredible representative of our country:
Facing Distraction
“It’s self-preservation. I think sometimes, when we all go through hard things, we disassociate and distract, and it feels like a bit of a nightmare. I feel like I’m just waiting to wake up. It doesn’t feel real. As athletes, we visualise every day. I would visualise 10 to 15 times a day that gold medal. I could feel it. It was on my skin and now it’s over. It feels fake.”
Harry’s experience reminds us that facing challenges and moments of despair is part of the human experience, not just for athletes but for everyone. Distraction can serve as a coping mechanism, preventing us from navigating through difficult feelings, but it’s important to confront those emotions head-on. By embracing both our struggles and victories, we empower ourselves to rise again, allowing each setback to pave the way for greater resilience and personal growth.
Silencing the Inner Critic
“We criticise ourselves as humans, right? We are our own biggest critics, especially as athletes. I trashed myself for hours post-competition, and I’m so lucky that I’ve got family, I’ve got people around me, and the support that I’ve had from Australia back home… I feel so grateful to be Australian, and that’s what sport is about, right? Life knocks you down. We have highs and lows but we have to ride it out.”
It’s all too easy to become our own worst enemies, letting self-doubt and negative thoughts drown out our self-worth. However, as Harry points out, when we experience the lows of life, it’s important we lean on those close connections that uplift and support us, to remind ourselves that our inner-critic is not supporting us. Our Dream team always supports us!
Leaning on friends, family, or mentors can be incredibly healing. Sharing our struggles allows us to reframe our inner dialogue, transforming harsh criticism into constructive encouragement. When we reach out, we remind ourselves that we are not alone in our challenges; the shared experience of vulnerability helps to cultivate a sense of community, solidarity and understanding. This is where resilience blossoms.
Taking Responsibility
“There are so many times that we get knocked down as humans, especially as adults, and a lot of it’s out of our control at times. I think it’s really important for young people to see that failure is just part of life. We have visions, we have dreams, we have ambitions, and we get knocked down, and it’s all about what we do next.”
“It’s our choice what we do next. Obviously, the next couple of months will be quite challenging for myself, and that’s part of not succeeding and not getting the result you wanted. But it’s always my responsibility for how I react to something.”
Harry’s words encapsulate the ultimate lesson from our Olympians – resilience is a choice, one that empowers us to take responsibility for our actions and reactions in the face of adversity. It’s not about avoiding failure, but rather how we respond and grow from it. Like Harry, may we all embrace each challenge with courage, integrity and self-reflection.
Sitting in Your Feelings
What is a champion, an Olympian, a human, going to do in the face of adversity and loss?
“I just want to sit in the grief, sit in the pain, sit in the sorrow for a bit, which is natural, and then get back up and shoot for the stars.”
There is no greater lesson and example that an athlete can set!
So, when you’re feeling like you’ve failed or struggling to find your own version of success, remember these lessons from our Harry:
- distractions are temporary coping mechanisms;
- your inner-critic wants to hold you back so kick it to the curb;
- lean on those who uplift and support you – Your dream team;
- embrace your feelings, sit in them and most importantly, honour how you feel and choose resilience in the face of any setback.
To Harry, you are a true champion, in and out of the ring. How we choose to respond to the events of our lives, in the good times and the bad, define us more than our victories, our medals, our titles.
Your vulnerability and authenticity shine a light on what it means to be human. As an athlete with a passion, a vision and a plan, yet to fall short, is devastating and heartbreaking. These dark and painful moments become hotspots for growth and change.
When you’re not winning, you’re learning. The lessons you learn will guide you toward future success. Thank you for sharing your story, your pain and your raw emotions with us all, allowing us to connect and ride these waves with you, with compassion and empathy.
Australia is very fortunate to have you as one of our own. Fuck the medals, you will always be a champion in our hearts.
By the way, Harry has just released his new book “The Good Fight” which you can order here (no this is not an affiliate deal, I think it’s a great book 
)!
LB.