Dick McTaggart, Scotland’s sole Olympic boxing gold medalist, has passed away at the age of 89.
Considered among Britain’s finest amateur boxers, the Dundee native secured a lightweight gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics at just 21 years old. His outstanding performance also earned him the Val Barker trophy, recognizing the Games’ best boxer across all weight categories.
McTaggart, alongside Terry Spinks, John McCormack, Tommy Nicholls, and Nicky Gargano, contributed to a successful year for British amateur boxing by all returning home with medals.
In a 2021 interview, McTaggart recounted winning the Val Barker Trophy, an honor that held special significance for the British delegation as no British competitor had ever received it before. He humorously mentioned celebrating the win extensively that night.
The Scottish boxer participated in two more Olympic Games, winning a bronze in Rome in 1960. However, in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he was defeated in the third round by the eventual champion, Jerzy Kulej.
McTaggart’s amateur career included an impressive 610 wins out of 634 bouts. He retired in 1965 at 30, having won numerous accolades, including Armed Forces titles, ABA titles, gold at the 1960 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, the European amateur title, and many others.
In 2019, McTaggart was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards, acknowledging his incredible boxing career.
In today’s boxing landscape, a boxer of his caliber would be highly sought after by promoters worldwide. However, McTaggart chose to remain an amateur throughout his career.
The McTaggart family confirmed his peaceful passing in the early hours of Sunday morning, describing him as a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend, a true gentleman and boxing legend whose kindness, determination, humor, and spirit would be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Boxing commentator Andy Clarke announced the news at the British Boxing Board of Control Awards in London, paying tribute to McTaggart as a phenomenon, and asked for a standing applause in his honor.
Main photo: McTaggart (Left) with Anthony Joshua – Photo by Philip Sharkey
