NORTH Down Boxing Club’s Garyn McAlister has set his sights on a gold medal after he was selected to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.
The 21-year-old’s latest achievement, securing his place on the national team, comes as a just reward after he claimed back-to-back Ulster titles, became Irish U-23 champion and finished fourth in the U-23 European Championships.
McAlister has been competing for six years, initially mixing his training with swimming and football, but at the age of 16, he had to make the decision to pursue one sport full-time, and that choice was always going to be boxing.
He said: “When I first started to compete, I saw Alanna Nihell, Lewis Crocker’s sister, win Commonwealth gold, and I thought I’d like to have a go at achieving that. So, that’s when I decided to focus on boxing.”
With the titles coming thick and fast over the past couple of years, suffice to say McAlister made the right call in pursuing a boxing career, but he has accomplished the aims he set for himself and now requires a new goal.
“My ambitions have always been to compete at Commonwealth and European level, and with my Northern Ireland selection, I’ve achieved both,” he explained.
“My main ambition is now to bring the gold medal home from Glasgow, that’s what I’m aiming for this summer.
“Commonwealth is a high level to compete at. There’s a big difference between a club boxer and an elite amateur, you need to put everything you’ve got into it, but if gold isn’t your end goal and you’re not setting your standards that high, you won’t achieve it.”
The North Down BC star will fight in the 90kg class, otherwise considered the heavyweight division, and he believes his unique style could give him the upper hand.
“I think I have a very good chance. With my style, I think I’m going to be one of the ones to bring home a medal. There’s no one at my weight class with my style, speed and level of movement.
This year will mark the 23rd appearance of boxing at the Commonwealth Games, with action unfolding at Glasgow’s SEC Centre from July 24 to August 1st, and McAlister will aim to add to Northern Ireland’s tally of 18 gold medallists.
