Rejuvinated Harris Ready to Step Up a Level

When the dream of Kristy Harris to qualify for the Rio Olympics came to an end earlier this year, the 23-year-old Victorian boxer decided to step away from the sport she’d been living, eating and breathing for five years.

Losing a second round bout at the World Championships in Kazakhstan broke Harris’s heart, because for a quarter of her life she’d devoted every waking minute towards qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

She decided the best way to deal with the disappointment was to put the gloves in the cupboard for a while.

“It was the biggest break I've had since I started competing five years ago,” Harris said.

“I wasn't sure what to do with myself some of the time, after traveling and training full time for so long, but I enjoyed time off making up for things I'd been sacrificing - time with friends and family, working and giving the body a rest.”

Time away also gave Harris a chance to reflect on her journey of the past five years, which included making her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow in 2014.

And on reflection, she realised despite not making the Olympics, she had achieved more than most will ever understand.

“It sucks when something you've been drilling into yourself and revolving your life around comes to an end,” Harris said.

“But it was always going to be tough, having to place top two in Oceania/ Asia or four in the world. A lot of people didn't get that, and some even just presumed I was going. Not a lot of people understood how hard it was to qualify.

“It wasn't my time this time but I know I'm not far behind these girls. I'm still young in the sport and have plenty to learn and build on still, so it sure wasn't the be all end all.”

Harris has also revealed her preparations for this year’s World Championships were hampered by an injury.

“It had been a massive year and in the lead-up to these qualifications, I had been dealing with a stress fracture in my hip which I got news about four weeks before worlds which impacted my preparation,” she said.

“I never gave up, but I was realistic that it could affect the outcome and therefore was really ready for a break after my loss.”

The break has given Harris a new lease on life. She’s returned refreshed and refocused, and will join three of her Australia teammates in Europe this month to begin her journey towards Gold Coast 2018 and Tokyo 2020.

“There's so many things I learnt from my experience, but a big positive I think was it made me sort out other things in my life,” she said.

“I’ve set myself up better and then hungrier to succeed in future goals. It makes you look at the big picture and make a plan B.”

The quartet – Harris, youth Olympic bronze medallist Caitlin Parker, and world championship silver and bronze medallists, Kaye Scott and Skye Nicolson – will compete in tournaments in Bulgaria and Poland.

“I'm hoping to win some medals at both the tournaments,” Harris said on the eve of her departure to Europe.

“It will be my first fight back since worlds in May so I'm keen to get back in there. I’ll also be making the most of being over in Europe, having sparring and training partners in my weight.”

“I want to be up there beating those girls who got in my way to qualify for Rio. Qualifying and then medalling at Comm Games/ world champs 2018,  and Olympics/ world champs 2020 is my target.

“And I also want to notice myself continue to improve like I have, especially over these past couple of years.”