It’s just 7 days until the first bell of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – which marks the 100th anniversary of Irish Olympic Boxing. We’re celebrating each and every team which boxed under the 5 rings of the Olympics, and today, we honour the boxers of Atlanta, 1996.
Holy Trinity BC in Belfast were within touching distance of at least two bronze medals on August 30th/31st at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Damaen Kelly, a bronze medal winner at the 1993 AIBA World Championships in Finland and a bronze medal winner at the 1996 European Championships in Denmark, which qualified him for Atlanta, and Brian Magee, a silver medal winner at the 1998 European Championships in Belarus, both reached the quarter-finals in the USA, but both lost out one bout away from securing a semi-final spot and at least a bronze medal each. Kelly fought his way past Bulgarian flyweight Julian Strogov and Hussein Hussein of Algeria only to lose 13-6 to Bolat Dzumadilov of Kazakhstan. Dzumadilov reached the 51kg final in Atlanta but was edged out on a 12-11 decision to Cuba’s Maikro Romero for the gold.
Magee, trading leather at middleweight, ousted Canada’s Randall Thompson and Betrand Tetsia of the Cameroon before losing (15-9) to Mohamed Bahari of Algeria. Bahari had to settle for bronze after a countback reversal to eventual silver medalist Malik Beyleroglu (Turkey) in the last-four.
Galway’s Francis Barrett, who was selected as Irish flag bearer for the opening ceremony at in Atlanta, recorded a win over Zely Ferreria on his Olympic debut, but went out of the tournament to Fethi Missaoui of Tunisia on an 18-6 verdict. Missaoui reached the semi-finals, guaranteeing himself bronze.
St Saviours OBA heavyweight Cathal O’Grady went out to New Zealand’s Garth Da Silva – who in turn was beaten by Sergey Dychkov of Belarus – in his first contest.
Cuba once again finished on top of the medals table at an Olympiad after securing four gold medals.
On January 1st, 1996, AIBA introduced a Competition Record Book. It was made compulsuary for all boxers to produce same to compete in AIBA competition. The upper age limit was raised from 32 to 34 years on the back of improved safety measures introduced to protect boxers’ health.
Team Ireland, Atlanta 1996
Flyweight: Damaen Kelly (Holy Trinity)
Beat Julian Strogov (Bulgaria) 12-11
Beat Hussein Hussein (Australia) 27-20
Lost to Bolat Dzumadilov (Kazakhstan) 6-13
Light-welterweight: Francis Barrett (Olympic)
Beat Zely Ferreria (Brazil) 32-7
Lost to Fethi Missaoui (Tunisia) 6-18
Middleweight: Brian Magee (Holy Trinity)
Beat Randall Thompson (Canada) 13-5
Beat Bertrand Tetsia (Cameroon) 11-6
Lost Mohamed Bahari (Algeria) 9-15
Heavyweight : Cathal O’Grady (St Saviours)
Lost to Garth Da Silva (New Zealand) TKO1
Check out Atlanta 1996:
The 1996 Summer Olympic programme featured 271 events in 26 sports. The Games were given a dramatic and emotional start when the cauldron was lit by sporting legend Muhammad Ali. Next to the site of the main competition venues was an open area known as the Centennial Olympic Park. The park appeared to be part of the Games, but was not actually a part of the Olympic security system. In the early hours of 27 July, tragedy struck when a terrorist bomb exploded in the Centennial Olympic Park, resulting in the death of two people and the injury of 110 more.
Olympic Firsts
For the first time in Olympic history, all 197 recognised National Olympic Committees were represented at the Games. Beach volleyball, mountain biking, lightweight rowing and women’s football made their first appearance and sailor Hubert Raudaschl (AUT) became the first person ever to compete in nine Olympic Games. Before he began his streak in 1964, he was a reserve in 1960.
Memorable Champions
In track and field, Marie-José Pérec, the French athlete, won the 200m and successfully defended her 400m title. She became the most successful French female athlete of all time and the first athlete to win the 400m twice. Not to be outdone, Michael Johnson of the U.S. became the first man in Olympic history to run and win both the 200m and 400m. His victory over 200m in 19.32 seconds established a new world record.