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ATHENS, Greece -- Andre Ward and his father had been too close not to share this moment, just like they shared everything else. Standing on the medal podium, Ward looked upward and blew a kiss to the man who had meant so much to him.
Frank Ward would have been proud of his son -- an Olympic gold medalist.
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| Andre Ward brings home the first U.S. boxing gold since the '96 Games in Atlanta.(AP) |
Boxing in the memory of his late father, Ward became the only American boxer to win a gold medal, beating Magomed Aripgadjiev of Belarus on Sunday to claim the light heavyweight title.
Ward's father, who introduced his son to boxing, died suddenly two years ago and Ward boxed through the Olympics with a picture of him in his shoes. Deeply religious, he said he believes his father helped guide him to the gold.
"I felt his spirit all through this tournament," Ward said.
Ward's win in the last fight of the games salvaged what had been a bleak Olympics for the U.S. boxing team, which brought nine boxers to Athens but had only one bronze medal to show for it before Ward stepped in the ring.
Showing the maturity that most of his teammates lacked, Ward shook off a swollen eye to turn the fight around in the third round and win a 20-13 decision.
"I just couldn't see myself coming away with a bronze or silver medal," Ward said. "I couldn't see myself settling for that."
It was the first gold medal for the United States since David Reid's win in 1996, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the beleaguered U.S. boxing program. American boxers seemed lost much of the time at these games, unable to adapt to international scoring and unwilling to change their styles.
Not Ward, whose singular focus on winning a gold medal carried him to four wins and the top prize.
"If a lot of other guys on this team were mature like him and didn't lose discipline, they would have been here too," assistant U.S. coach Al Mitchell said. "He's a good role model and we need role models in this sport."
