He was out-boxed and out-classed, but Harry Garside cemented his place in Australian boxing folklore by ending a three-decade Olympic medal drought.
Garside, the ballet-dancing plumber from Lilydale, Victoria who endeared himself to the nation with his boxing pluck and post-bout honesty, was well beaten by Cuban Andy Cruz in his Tokyo Games lightweight semi-final.
But in doing so he collected bronze - just Australia's fifth Olympic boxing medal, and first since Grahame 'Spike' Cheney claimed silver in Seoul in 1988.
"(I'm) just a little bit heartbroken," Garside said after the unanimous decision.
"I felt outclassed a little bit, but I had a red-hot crack and that's what Australians do, we have a red-hot dip and I'm proud of myself for that.
"I really wanted to be the first ever to win an Olympic gold medal, but hopefully he (Cruz) goes far and wins the next fight."
Cruz is no mug. He is a two-time world champion, has had more than 100 fights.
The 25-year-old has just one loss in his past 75 bouts and is widely considered the best pound-for-pound amateur fighter in the world.
As brave as he was, Garside - who has had just over 30 fights - was clearly overmatched.
Cruz was relentless throughout the three round contest, equally effective on the front foot or counter-punching as he landed blow after blow on the 24-year-old.
He won every judge's card in each round, and will go into the gold medal bout against American Keyshawn Davis a warm favourite.
"He's just an exceptional athlete, I've always wanted to fight him just to see how I stack up against him," Garside said.
"He was just too good tonight.
"It's pretty crazy that I'm here, it hasn't really sunk in.
"I did this for Australia, I know Australia's proud of me that I got a bronze, I know I wanted a gold."
