- Star cannot represent Australia in Paris due to court ruling
- Her adoptive mother in South Australia is a lesbian.
A prominent South Australian boxer might have worn the green and gold at the Paris Olympics if not for state laws banning same-sex couples from adopting children before 2017.
Lightweight prodigy Fred Zziwa, 26, has become one of the country’s most feared boxers due to his speed and power, and the Ugandan-born athlete was planning to showcase his skills at the 2024 Olympics in July.
However, Zziwa’s adoptive Australian mother, Melina Mayne, is a lesbian and legislation in South Australia before 2017 prevented same-sex couples from legally adopting.
Zziwa was forced to obtain a series of temporary visas while living in Victor Harbour, South Australia, and due to the delay in adoption he has been unable to obtain citizenship and cannot qualify for the Paris Games.
Lightweight prodigy Fred Zziwa (left) will not represent Australia in Paris in July due to laws in South Australia that prevented same-sex couples from adopting.
Zziwa’s adoptive Australian mother, Melina Mayne (pictured together), is a lesbian and was unable to adopt him due to an archaic law.
“That’s the tragedy for him and for Australia: he’s been deprived of going to the Olympics,” Mayne said. News Corporation.
‘If the same-sex adoption laws had been changed even a year earlier, I would have adopted Fred and he would have gotten his citizenship and gone to Paris.
‘But I am very proud of what he has been able to achieve despite the challenges; the nutritional challenges he had as a child, the educational battles and the mental obstacles he had to overcome when we were fighting for visas.’
Zziwa, who has since turned professional, has won at the amateur level against several active Australian champions in multiple weight divisions, a feat rarely seen in the sport.
His biggest problem as a professional is trying to find someone to get in the ring with him.
Zziwa’s former South Australian coach Mark Nethercott said: “He clearly has more power than anyone in the country’s division.”
‘That’s why everyone avoids it.
“He also has a high boxing IQ, able to make adjustments quickly to figure out his opponents.”
The fearsome lightweight now has his sights set on winning a world title.
Zziwa has since moved to New South Wales to be trained by top trainer Joel Keegan, and now has his sights set on beating the best in his field.
“I have the dream of being world champion and I will not stop until I achieve it,” he said.
And one day there will be a statue of me in Victor Harbor. I’ve already spoken to the council about this, you’ll see that statue of me.’