As the world counts down the days until the Paris 2024 Olympics, we spoke to Adelaide’s own Callum Peters about how it feels to represent his country in boxing at the upcoming games.
South Australian boxer Callum Peters is set to make history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The 21-year-old athlete has been selected to join the largest Australian Olympic boxing team ever, and he has his eyes on one goal: gold.
“I want to become the first Australian boxer to get that gold medal. I believe in all the hard work I put in and what I’ve achieved so far,” Callum says.
The journey to Paris
Callum’s ticket to Paris was assured after his stellar performance at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, where he clinched the Oceania qualifier. Now, he’s part of a 12-strong Aussie boxing team – the largest ever. Alongside his teammate Marissa Williamson Pohlman, Callum was one of the first Indigenous athletes selected for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team.
“I’m very excited … it still hasn’t really hit me yet,” Callum admitted. “I reckon once I get on that plane, there will be a lot of emotions then.”
Training like a champ
To prepare for the men’s 80kg event, Callum’s training regime is no joke. He’s mixing things up with sparring, strength and conditioning, running, and even swimming. His schedule, overseen by his coach (and dad), Bradley Peters, has been fine-tuned over the past 12 years.
“He’s an Olympian now and that’s the hardest thing to do in your boxing career,” Bradley says. “From here, I’m hoping he can go to that next level and get that gold. If he can do it for himself and for South Australia, he will have done so well for all of us.”
Callum says SASI (the South Australian Sports Institute) has been a big help during his journey, especially to give him “power and strength” as he’s bulked up to move from 75 to 80kg. They’ve hooked him up with a dietitian and a strength and conditioning expert, as well as funding for the training he needs.
Staying grounded
Despite all the buzz, Callum remains super grounded. “Nothing’s different or disrupting the process and the training. It’s all the same as it was before,” he says. His dad’s been a rock, pushing him to train hard and never go soft: “If you go soft and easy, you get beaten. So he’s always pushing me to be the best that I can be.”
Callum’s boxing journey started when he was nine, and he had his first competition at 14. He initially took up boxing for fitness and confidence. “I was a big, chubby kid when I was younger, and I’d have shin splints and stuff like that. Boxing sorted me out to get healthier,” he says.
Fancy yourself a gold medal expert on SA’s Olympic and Paralympic stars? Test your knowledge in our QUIZ!
The power of boxing
Boxing has made a huge difference in Callum’s life. “Since starting boxing, I feel heaps better. It definitely helped me to achieve things that I didn’t know were possible,” he says. “Boxing is really good for your mind and for giving you that community space. You feel good, you look good, and you have good people around you.”
Callum loves the sense of community boxing brings. “There are such amazing people that you surround yourself with. It’s beautiful. When you’re in the ring, sure you fight the person, but you know how much hard work they put in as well. Every time I go to an event, everyone knows who I am, and I’ll say hello to everyone.”
For Callum, the idea that boxing is about aggression is completely wrong. “I feel like some people say boxing means you’re angry but it’s not true. I’m pretty chilled. I’m happy. Boxing’s fun. Even with the training and the sparring, I’m relaxed. No aggression at all, you know?”
Inspiring the next generation
Callum’s from Davoren Park. He takes his role as an ambassador for both his state and Adelaide’s northern suburbs seriously. “It’s good to be a role model. The young lads up north, they’re like brothers, so it’s just good to show them that anything’s possible. If you put your mind and heart into it, you can achieve anything.”
He wants young people to know they can “do whatever they want” if they just go at it with enough perseverance and commitment. “When I started boxing I was terrible,” he says. “But if you put in the effort and time and just keep at it, you’re going to get better and better at whatever you’re doing. It takes time, discipline and dedication. You just have to stick to it.”
Looking ahead
As for the future, Callum’s eyes are set on gold. “The mission at the Olympics is gold. I almost got there at the Commonwealth Games. It was my first experience out of the country, so I didn’t know really what to expect. My mindset was to rely on the training and all the hard work I’d put in when I got in the ring. I got super close to gold, so now I just trust the journey and trust the training.”
With the Olympics set to start on July 26, Callum is ready to seize the moment. “People say the Olympics will be 10 times bigger than the Commonwealth Games, so I just have to wait and see. I don’t want to overthink it – I’ll just take my time and enjoy the moment.”
Callum’s future in boxing looks bright, with the potential of turning professional down the line. But for now, he’s focused on Paris, with his family, sponsors, and supporters cheering him on. “I know they’ll all be watching me back home on the TV. I’m very grateful to have them backing me up.”
