Paris Olympics 2024: West Australian’s Caitlin Parker and Charlie Senior eyeing gold after creating history

WA’s newest boxing hero, Caitlin Parker, isn’t simply satisfied with creating a piece of extraordinary Australian history; she wants to go all the way and do it with fellow West Australian Charlie Senior.

The odds were stacked against the Subiaco product in the women’s heavyweight quarterfinal, facing world champion and Moroccan monster Khadija Mardi.

But her fierce determination and perfectly timed counterpunches left the judges no choice but to award the Aussie a boxing boilover and officially confirm her as the first Australian woman in our 100-year Olympic history to claim boxing silverware, with both losing semifinalists earning bronze medals.

“Oh my god,” a beaming Parker roared after the judges confirmed she had won all three rounds of the bout.

“I’ve got every emotion going through me right now.

“It’s the biggest relief. I’ve done it. I’ve finally secured an Olympic medal, and the first female from Australia to win an Olympic medal feels incredible.

“History has been made.”

But Parker made the competition fully aware she wasn’t done yet, stating she was “going to war” for the gold medal.

“I’ve always known and always believed that I can win the gold,” she said.

“She was a huge opponent. Her size was incredible, but I knew what I was capable of.

“I know I’m a sharp boxer, and I’m smart, and I know I can do it. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win that gold medal.

“I will put everything out there. Literally, every final for me is the Olympic gold medal round.

“I just hope that I can be a role model and show women, show girls that they’re capable of anything they put their mind to.

“You are always capable of amazing things.”

She’s not the only West Australian to earn guaranteed silverware, with Senior putting on a clinic in his featherweight quarterfinal against Carlo Paalam to confirm Australia would win boxing medals at back-to-back Games for the first time in an incredible 64 years.

And Parker revealed the achievement brought the pair to tears before her epic triumph.

“I can’t wait to call Mum and Dad and scream to them on the phone,” Parker said.

“I was in absolute bloody tears yesterday when Charlie came back to the Olympic village, and we just cried with each other.

“We can both win again. We’re going to make history together.”

Senior was also keeping his eye on the prize.

“I don’t come here for just a bronze medal; I come here for gold, and that’s what I’m going to leave with,” he told Nine after the win.