Caitlin Parker, Australia’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist, and AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships silver medallist has been accepted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program for next year.

“I am honoured and thrilled to be asked to work alongside Caitlin as she pursues her sporting dreams. Boxing is no doubt the toughest sport, and requires a huge amount of commitment and sacrifice, so with that in mind I am sure Caitlin is already a fine athlete. I hope I am able to pass on some knowledge from my experiences that will help her achieve all she desires and to represent our country with pride,” said Caitlin’s mentor, Adam Gilchrist who is one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

Following regional and national titles, 18-year-old Caitlin Parker entered into the elite of the Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg) in February when she claimed the gold medal at the Brandenburg Youth Cup in Frankfurt an der Oder in Germany.

She defeated tough Hungarian, Turkish and French opponents in that preparation event, which was the first step to potentially huge success for the mentally strong Australian.

Parker advanced to the final of the AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships in Sofia, which was the lone qualifying event for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

Following her great and successful run to the final, she was defeated by Poland’s favourite Elzbieta Wojcik, who is perhaps the strongest women’s youth athlete in the entire world.

The silver medal was Parker’s career highlight, and after that loss she has raised the level of her training sessions to reach the top of the podium in future events.

At the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, Parker eliminated US boxer Martha Fabela in the quarter-finals, but she again had to meet with Poland’s star Elzbieta Wojcik in the semi-finals.

She provided her best ever performance in her career, and improved from the Sofia event, but finally the Polish woman’s hand was raised after their hectic battle.

Parker then took home the bronze medal against Ireland’s Christina Desmond to claim bronze.

“This scholarship means for me that I will have more opportunities for international and national competitions next year. Following the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games where I acquired a bronze medal, I had couple of weeks off to get my body ready for intense training for the next year’s events. My main goal is to qualify for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and I want compete at more international events to reach my target,” commented Subiaco-based Caitlin Parker on the value of her new scholarship.

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