Silver for Scott Brings Mixed Feelings

Story by Ross Solly

To mere mortals, winning a silver medal and cementing your standing as the second best athlete in your field in the world would be a cause for major celebration.

But Australian boxer Kaye Scott said winning silver at the Women’s Boxing World Championships in Kazakhstan gave her mixed emotions.

“Second place is kind of bittersweet,” Scott said after losing her gold medal bout against China’s reigning world 75kg champion, Yang Xiaoli.

“You have the disappointment of losing your bout, but then being strung straight away into the arena for the medal ceremony.”

But that aside, Scott said she could not be unhappy with becoming Australia’s most successful amateur boxer at a World Championships ever.

“I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved at this tournament,” she said.

“I’ve worked damn hard for a long time, and finally it was my time to shine.

“Boxing is my passion, and I feel I’ve grown as an athlete dramatically in the last two years. But I still have plenty more room to improve and be competitive on the international scene.”

31-year-old Scott, who just missed earning the right to box for Australia in the 75kg Olympic category, said she will now focus on preparing for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Australia also picked up bronze at the World Championships, with Queensland’s Skye Nicolson losing her semi-final bout to China’s Yang Wenlu.

It was Australia’s most successful World Championships ever.