Just six days now until the first bell at Paris 2024 – and the advent of Ireland’s Olympic boxing centenary.
Today, we celebrate the team of the Sydney Olympics; Ireland’s smallest team. Michael Roche was the only Irish boxer at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
The Sunnyside BC light-middleweight was the third athlete from the famed Cork club after Kieran Joyce and Paul Buttimer to qualify for an Olympiad.
Roche booked his ticket for the Sydney Games at the 2000 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany, the stylish Munster technician taking home a silver medal into the bargain.
Roche, a five-time Irish Elite champion, beat Fawis Nassir of Denmark and Josef Frecer Czechoslovakia to reach the 71kg final at the Halle tournament, which was also acting as a direct route to Sydney.
But he then lost to Hungary’s Karoly Balzay in the final on a walkover because of a back injury. However, his Olympic ticket was in the post.
Firat Karagollu awaited in Sydney and the Turk earned a 17-4 decision to end Roche’s and Ireland’s interest in the 74-tournament.
Karagollu went out in the next phase to Frederic Esther of France. Nicholas Cruz worked Ireland’s corner in Sydney and Martin Power was Irish team manager.
“The Olympics was a fantastic experience and while I was obviously disappointed not to have progressed in Sydney I was very proud to represent my country at the Olympic Games,” said Roche, who was honoured this year for his outstanding contribution to the sport at a Cork Boxing Breakfast.
Cuba topped the medals table at the 2000 Games.
Check out Sydney’s Opening Ceremony:
The 2000 Summer Olympic programme featured 300 events in 28 sports.
Triathlon and taekwondo were two new additions to the Olympic programme. Susanthika Jayasinghe became the first Sri Lankan woman to win a medal, claiming bronze in the 200m, whilst Birgit Fischer earned two gold medals in kayaking to become the first woman in any sport to win medals 20 years apart. Women also took part in weightlifting and the modern pentathlon for the very first time.
Comeback Kings
There were some wonderful comebacks in Sydney, but none more so than the U.S. softball team. After losing three games in a row, they regrouped and won gold in stirring fashion by beating each of the teams they had previously lost to.
Memorable Champions
Ryoko Tamura had lost in the judo 48kg final in both Barcelona and Atlanta, but came back to win the gold medal in Sydney. Steven Redgrave gained sporting immortality by becoming the first rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. In the 400m freestyle, 17-year-old Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe won gold by breaking his own world record in front of a jubilant home crowd.