London 2012 Olympics: No regrets, says Aborigines’ standard-bearer Hooper

Published on 31/07/2012 02:34

AUSTRALIAN boxer Damien Hooper said it was worth the risk of getting into trouble with officials yesterday when he wore a T-shirt bearing the Aboriginal flag to the ring before his first-round win.

The exciting light-heavyweight, no stranger to controversy – he was sent home from the 2010 Commonwealth Games and from a recent training camp for bad behaviour – said he was proud to represent the indigenous Australian culture. “I’m Aboriginal, I’m representing my culture, not only my country but all of my people as well,” Hooper told reporters.

“I’m very proud, and that’s what I wanted to do, and yeah – I’m happy I did it. I was just thinking about my family, and that’s what really matters to me, and look what it did: it made my whole performance better with that support behind me. I’m not saying that I don’t care [about possibly getting into trouble], I’m just saying I’m very proud of what I did.”

The Australian Olympic Committee said it would “counsel” Hooper on the rules of the International Olympic Committee as to the symbols, flags and political messages that can or cannot be carried into an Olympic venue.

In the ring, Hooper certainly needed something to spur him on when he found himself trailing American Marcus Browne by a point after two rounds. The 20-year-old world No 2 stepped it up in the final round, pressuring Browne into a standing eight count on his way to a deserved 13-11 victory.

Hooper, regarded as the country’s best chance of a first boxing medal since 1988, faces former world amateur heavy-weight champion Egor Mekhontcev of Russia in Saturday’s next round.