Boxing Australia has launched a National Futures Program with state and national programs focused on developing junior talent with the aim of producing future Australian representatives.
The National Futures Program is for young male and female boxers in the junior and youth categories and is as part of the Commonwealth Games Australia high performance initiative in the lead up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
National Futures Program coach Jamie Pittman, himself a 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2004 Athens Olympic boxer says the involvement of several Commonwealth Games and Olympic representatives has been one of the highlights of the program.
“What has been the most exciting inclusion of the new program is the mentors involved,” Pittman says.
This year the program has already seen the a cast of distinguished guests present to the rising stars of Australian boxing:
Jason Whateley: 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and 2016 Rio Olympian
David Cutting: 2018 Commonwealth Games boxing section manager
Mark Lucas: 2014 Commonwealth Games representative
Kirsteen Maclean: Boxing Australia board member and a former national champion
Jamie Pittman: 2002 Commonwealth Games representative, 2004 Olympian
Harry Garside: 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist
Johnny Lewis: International Boxing Hall of Fame member, coach of six world champions
Daniel Geale: 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, 2000 Olympian
“The improvements of the U19s athletes from camp to camp is quite remarkable and the data and reports collected reflect these improvements,” Pittman says.
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In what will be the first high performance camp for many of the participants, the National Futures Program has selected the top 12 athletes from across Australia for the National Futures Camp at the AIS in Canberra in July (6th-10th).
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) CEO Craig Phillips said the Boxing Australia program will help continue the strong tradition of Commonwealth Games success for our boxers.
“Our boxers collected three gold medals on the Gold Coast with two coming from our women’s team which is a rapidly developing area of the sport,” Phillips said.
“Historically, we have generally finished in the top three in boxing, with England on top, so Birmingham won’t be an easy assignment, and this program will help develop our emerging boxers for both 2022 and beyond.”
To help achieve the goal of remaining the number nation in the Commonwealth CGA has committed $13 million to assist with preparations for the 2022 Games.
The funding is a direct legacy for Commonwealth Games sports and athletes of hosting the Gold Coast Games and in 2019 and 2020 will target pre-elite athletes who have their sights set on the 2022 Games.
The funding is designed to complement rather than replace or replicate any other sources of funding such as via Sport Australia or the AIS and in some sports where Olympic related funding is minimal, will provide a lifeline for athletes and the sport.
