Boxing: Beaten boxer finds new ticket to the Olympics

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Champion boxer Trevor Shailer has a new Olympic goal after his Sydney dream fizzled.

The 29-year-old welterweight hoped to fight for New Zealand at the Games in September - but instead he is being paid to go.

A competitor at the 1992 Olympics, Shailer was knocked out of contention for Sydney when he failed to win the final of his division at the Oceania championships.

Rather than resting on the spot he had reserved for his laurels, Shailer scored a job with the Sydney Olympic organisers supervising spectators at the mountain biking and equestrian venues.

"I was bitter and twisted after being knocked out, but now I'm only twisted. The bitterness is gone," said Shailer.

"Being on the inside in 1992 was a fantastic experience, and hopefully in 2000 I'll be able to be part of the atmosphere again."

Shailer's determination to make the Olympics began last year when he dusted off his gloves after a five-year break, stepping back into the ring for the first time since winning bronze at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

Optimism swelled when he won the welterweight national title last year. But injuries, including a cracked rib suffered while sparring with middleweight Lance Bryant, hampered his preparation and he lost the final bout at the Oceanias in May.

Shailer's failure to make the team, however, created problems at home. His partner had already lined up a job with the Games organising committee, and if she was going to be there he wanted to be too.

"It just didn't make sense for me to be in front of the television watching them at home so I applied for a job."

Although he may have preferred to be at the boxing, Shailer said he was excited about being close to the sporting action, whatever the code.

His enthusiasm for biking comes from cycling to work at the Health Sponsorship Council in Wellington every day.

As for equestrian: "Apart from a few race days at the Wellington Cup, I don't know much about horses, but I'm really looking forward to it. It will be great to see the equestrian because New Zealand is such a powerhouse."

The Olympics – a Herald series

Official Sydney 2000 website