From boxing to ballet and balancing out life, Harry Garside is one of those rare sportsmen who unashamedly challenges conformity. What a wonderful opportunity it was to interview this rising star, and a champion in more ways than one. Photography by Christian Scott for DNA Magazine.
When Harry Garside won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, he broke a thirty-three-year drought by winning Australia’s first boxing medal since 1988. His win in the Men’s Lightweight Division won the hearts of Aussies and a worldwide audience, but his impact spreads even wider, for Garside is not your average boxer. He’s a professional tradie (plumber), performs ballet, works with youths, and boldly challenges gender stereotyping – a statement he makes with those now-famous painted nails.
When asked to model for DNA, the twenty-four-year-old with his distinctive tattooed limb and French crop mullet, jumped at the chance – after all, he has a lot to say about diversity. In fact, it all began around the age of nine when his unique persona differed from others around him.
“I was nothing like my two older brothers,” says Garside.
“They were always doing more along what my dad was doing, and I was more in touch with my mum. I stayed inside with her a lot more, and because of that, I felt I didn’t get much respect from my brothers and at times, also from my dad. So, I initially started boxing when I was nine, just to get a bit of respect from them, and I fell in love with the sport within a week!”
Photography by Christian Scott
Growing up in the outer Melbourne suburb of Lilydale and surrounded by men akin to the archetypal Aussie bloke, Garside felt a black sheep in his community. But all that changed when the Reach Foundation, a youth organisation founded by the late AFL footballer Jim Stynes, came to his school to run a workshop for males.
“That was probably the first day I started to delve into myself and understand a lot more,” says Garside.
“That day was all about challenging stereotypes and to especially think about the places where men worked and about the whole male stereotype. A lot of the males I knew at the time were rougher around the edges. They all seemed to be tradies doing dumb stuff like drinking a lot of alcohol. So, it was about challenging them, but to also understand them more. After that day I got involved with the Reach Foundation and I now try to participate as much as I can. I was truly moved by that one day.”
“I’m proud of myself for many different things but to get that close to gold and bring home the bronze, was also a failure.”
In between boxing training and fights, Garside’s work with the Foundation includes assisting with workshops and corporate funding. Originally developed in 1994 by Jim Stynes and film director Paul Currie, the group works in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, aiming to provide skills and resources to help the emotional and social wellbeing of adolescents.
“I think it’s a really pivotal age for young people,” says Garside.
“There’s a lot happening to your body in that time, and a lot happening around you, particularly with friends, in society and with your life in general. I think it’s a really powerful moment to connect with young people, and to give them the space to find out who they truly are. It’s an opportunity of discovery to love themselves for the ‘good the bad and the ugly’ in what they find.”
“It’s amazing to do something that’s expressive with so much discipline and structure, and so many similarities to boxing.”
As such, the world Garside has discovered extends way outside of boxing into what many would consider the polar opposite – ballet. But given his free-spirited and independent character, it comes of no surprise.
“I always loved musicals while growing up,” he says.
Photography by Christian Scott
“I loved Glee and movies like Center Stage and High School Musical. Of course, my two brothers sometimes picked on me for watching them, but I’ve always been interested in the art of performance, dancing and singing. I just didn’t have the courage to take it up when I was younger. I was too scared to talk about it with my family, so I kept it in and didn’t do anything until 2019 when I got the courage to walk into the Elancé Adult Ballet School in Mitcham (Melbourne). I fell in love with that very quickly too. It’s amazing to do something that’s expressive with so much discipline and structure, and there’s so many similarities to boxing.”
Garside’s choice to study ballet while involved with boxing is certainly a step outside the square, or more fittingly the ring, but the decision to wear bright nail polish at the Tokyo Olympics must surely have raised eyebrows in the boxing community.
“Young men often don’t have the emotional intelligence to understand why they are wrong.”
“You’re not going to please everyone with what you do and in the boxing community there has been some comments,” he says.
“But most of the time it’s been really positive. There’s a lot of amazing people within boxing and I’m starting a conversation which I think is probably needed in that world. If people are having these conversations about me with their boxing mates, then that’s a good conversation to be having.”
Undoubtably, there would be similar conversations taking place in the world of ballet, where Garside has made a positive impact.
“I hope that I’m being a good advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community and help make more straight people start questioning their beliefs.”
“I don’t know heaps of people in the ballet community, but during quarantine the Queensland Ballet Academy messaged me with an invitation to visit. I was blown away by that because I’d love to take it up. Lots of people have their own opinion of what ballet is, but it’s one of the hardest sports I’ve ever seen and done. I have the utmost respect for anyone in the dance world, but especially for ballet.”
Photography by Christian Scott
That said, when it comes to Garside’s openness towards inclusiveness and gender diversity, there is no greater support than that coming from the LGBTIQ+ community. After all, he embodies the spirt of a great ally and straight mate, perhaps even gaining greater insight into our world.
“I like being a straight mate,” he says.
“I hope that I’m being a good advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community and help to make more straight people start questioning their beliefs, especially people throughout the boxing community. Hopefully they can accept people for who they are and try their best not to judge. I can’t imagine what some people in the LGBTIQ+ community must go through. I guess there’s a tumultuous period where it’s tough and rough but then there’s always the other side where there is growth and understanding. Everyone understands that it my family. They challenge their own thoughts and beliefs and I’m proud of them for that. My brothers are now a lot more understanding of people who are different and they have a lot more empathy. In the Reach Foundation there are LGBTIQ+ people and one of my housemates is gay. I’ve met some bloody good people in my life, and a lot of them are in the LGBTIQ+ community. I have a great relationship with gay people and at the end of the day, we’re all just people. And that’s what matters.”
It’s also of no surprise that Garside has buddied up with our very own gay Aussie boxing champ, Martin Stark. The two proudly marched together arm-in-arm at this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
“We already had a social media relationship and then we got to march together at the Mardi Gras,” says Garside.
Photography by Christian Scott
“He’s such a legend and a really nice man. We got on like a house on fire and I’m sure it’s the start of a really good friendship. Martin’s doing amazing things for the boxing community and I’m fully supportive of people like that. This was my first Mardi Gras and it was such an honour to be involved.”
When it comes to heroes, Garside has many including the iconic Aussie Olympians who came before him. Among the many to leave a lasting impression is champion swimmer Ian Thorpe, winner of nine Olympic medals.
“What an exceptional man he is,” says Garside.
“Watching him when I was young, I was amazed and it helped me form a sense of patriotism, not to mention my identity with Australian sport. Grant Hackett was also one of the reasons I started my Olympic dream journey. Grant actually filmed a support video for me just before my Olympic bronze medal match, so it’s been like a full circle experience.”
Then there are Garside’s boxing heroes. For the roll call, one only need look at his right leg for the detailed tattooed artwork. Muhammad Ali, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jnr, Andre Ward and Vasiliy Lomachenko form the impressive skin canvas.
“I’m really happy with how my tattoos turned out,” says Garside smiling.
“They’re some of the best boxers of all time. I absolutely love the sport of boxing, but I also love what some of these guys stand for. Obviously, Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest men to walk the planet, but also what he stood for outside of the boxing ring was pretty amazing.”
“I’ve met some bloody good people in my life, and a lot of them are in the LGBTIQ+ community.”
But there are some that didn’t make the cut, including Floyd Mayweather who apart from his homophobic slurs, refused to be photographed with a fan who had painted nails.
“I try my best not to criticize someone,” says Garside.
“You never know what’s going on with celebrities, when they’re being pushed and pulled around in different directions, but when Floyd Mayweather refused to get a photo with a fan because he had nail polish on, he disrespected the fan. He made it very clear as to why he wasn’t going to do the photo and the fan seemed a really nice person. But he’s also been done for domestic violence and Mike Tyson has been done for rape. I just don’t respect people like that, and I don’t support that culture. As a society we’ve really got to change the narrative. We put these people up on a pedestal, but we should respect them for being good humans and not because they’re celebrities.”
In recent years the subject of toxic masculinity has grown in discussion, particularly in how it affects men’s mental health. Garside credits organisations like the Reach Foundation for addressing such issues and helping to steer young men in the right direction.
“I grew up in the far outer suburbs, right at the end of a trainline,” says Garside.
“It was a working-class area with old-fashioned beliefs and certainly had a bit of toxic masculinity. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to say that I was perfect because I wasn’t, and I’m still not, but I’m trying my best to navigate it. I definitely said and did things that I’m not proud of when I was younger, but the Reach Foundation really helped with my growth. So have the people I’ve met through boxing. But that sort of thing can be challenging for young people because they’re being told by others that they’re wrong. Young men especially, often don’t have the emotional intelligence to understand why they are wrong. But by starting the conversation we can actually help young people to change and be better humans.”
Photography by Christian Scott
For a man with many layers and interests, Garside’s shining spotlight so far has been his Olympic win, which made headlines and was watched by a global audience. But while the accolades poured in, most were unaware how disappointed the young boxer felt on losing out on the gold.
“I dreamed of winning a gold medal since the age of seven, when I saw Grant Hackett swim the 1500 metre freestyle in Athens,” he says.
“I’m proud of myself for many different things but to get that close to gold and bring home the bronze, was also a failure. As athletes, we’re always striving for our best, but when that moment happened, I went a bit numb. It was interesting trying to combat that moment, because even though it was great to win our first Olympic boxing medal in thirty-three years, I also felt a sense of heartache. A lot of people were patting me on the back, but I wasn’t patting myself. It was challenging, but I’m grateful I got through it, and I realized the most important thing is to be kind to yourself. I feel a million dollars now and focusing on the future. It’s not that I’m ungrateful or anything like that, it’s just that as athletes, especially boxers, we get one or maybe two chances at the Olympic Games and to get that close is heartbreaking. But I am proud of myself.”
Either way, Garside has boldly stepped outside of the square in more ways than one. He’s certainly not one for sitting in a comfort zone and continues to take on new challenges face on.
“As humans, we often wear masks as an identity that society pushes on us,” he says.
“People accept us with our mask on, but it becomes harder once we take it off. That’s when people start to judge and criticize because we become ourselves – our true authentic selves. I’ve come to realize that I’ve taken my own mask off and slowly attracted the people who love me that way – and I love it too!”
And when it comes to music and fashion, Garside is still typically a part of Gen Z, growing up on hip-hop and there’s his trademark French cropped mullet!
“A lot of time and energy has been put into my mullet,” he laughs.
“I have a great relationship with gay people. At the end of the day, we’re all just people, and that’s what matters.”
“I started growing it at the end of 2019 and it now takes a lot of maintenance. It’s starting to get a little long, but I love it. Mullets seem to be very popular at the moment, especially in Melbourne. I love music and have a varied playlist, but I never listen to songs before a tournament for that very reason! The thing is, I mash them all up and one minute I’ll be listening to English hip-hop and the next it’s Taylor Swift! That can play with my emotions a bit before a competition! I’m currently going through a country music stage listening to Luke Combs, but I do love hip-hop and deep house, which is moody, expressive, and passionate.”
Although currently based in Sydney, when he travels back to Melbourne, Garside works in his brother’s plumbing business, allowing great time-management for his boxing training. And then there’s the ballet, but will we be seeing him center stage soon?
“I don’t know about the near future, but it’s definitely on the bucket list,” he says.
“I’m a man of my word, so you can definitely put this in print. It’ll hold me more accountable! There’s just so many things I want to try out. I’m not sure if I’ll like them all, but there’s certainly a few. For instance, I’m about to start an acting improve class which I’m really excited about. I’d also like to get a business started, while continuing with my love for boxing and self-improvement. But one day I also want to start a family and to be a really good dad! Those are very important things to me, and I hope they’ll happen over the next five to ten years.”
There are many layers to Harry Garside, yet it’s easy to see an honest, modest and unpretentious person at the core, for he is unmasked. This young boxer may have won bronze, but we can all agree he has a heart of gold!
Follow Harry on Instagram @harry_garside
