Zaur Antia preparing for his fifth Olympics with Ireland is a testament to his resilience and skill. Eight years ago, he faced intense pressure as the Head Coach of the Irish boxing team when Michael O'Reilly tested positive for drugs just before the Rio Olympics.
Even before Billy Walsh left for the USA, Antia had a demanding schedule. Walsh's departure added to his responsibilities, including overseeing accommodations, arranging training camps, and holding meetings with the Institute of Sport. With Pete Taylor no longer coaching his daughter Katie, Antia also took on more responsibility in her corner.
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Leading the most successful Irish team in international sports comes with the responsibility of being its public face, a challenge for Antia, especially since English is not his native language.
The Rio Olympics turned out disastrously for Ireland due to various reasons. Antia could have easily walked away amidst numerous offers. His commitment to preparing for his fifth Olympics with Ireland highlights his determination and excellence.
Amateur boxing is a massive sport globally, with boxing clubs found in every part of the world. Over 200 countries have attempted to qualify their boxers for the Paris Olympics, indicating the intense level of competition. Despite the odds, Ireland will field the third-largest boxing team in Paris, with 10 fighters.
This is two more than Walsh's Team USA, which is a powerhouse in the sport.
There is often talk about the pressure on Antia to meet expectations, but he truly understands what pressure means. During his first Olympics with Ireland in Beijing 2008, Walsh would occasionally find Antia sitting alone late into the night, silently smoking a cigarette. At that time, war had erupted between Georgia and Russia, and his hometown of South Ossetia had been hit by missiles.
"That was an incredibly challenging period in my life," Antia later shared. "I was quite distracted at the time. However, I managed to keep my composure around the boxers, not letting them sense my distress. I kept my emotions in check, focusing solely on boxing.
"I was making calls everywhere, but the information was scarce. Sleep was elusive; I might catch an hour or two around 4 am. A jet launched a rocket less than a kilometer from my home, killing 19 people.
"One of the victims was a boxer I had trained. I couldn't locate my family for three days. Then, the phones began working again, and a friend in Tbilisi finally reached them.
"They had taken refuge in the mountains at my wife's sister's place. Later, my wife told me how our home shook violently when the missile hit, and at the moment, they were unsure of what had happened. My 16-year-old son, Georghe, was nowhere to be found, which caused her great distress."
Fortunately, Antia's family was unharmed, and they have since settled happily in Ireland.
Eric Donovan was among those who saw significant improvement when the Georgian joined the Irish coaching team, and he always believed Antia was extraordinary.
"We were always recognized as the fighting Irish, celebrated for our spirit in boxing. However, our technical skills were often seen as lacking," Donovan remarked.
"Zaur introduced a new level of technical expertise to our training. He developed boxers with skills across various styles, enhancing our versatility in the ring."
"Zaur emphasizes the concept of the universal boxer, striving to mold fighters who excel in multiple areas. He often references the legendary Cuban boxers, who were true universal fighters—able to switch between orthodox and southpaw with ease, and master both boxing and fighting techniques."
