Muscle car enthusiast, bike mechanic, footballer, daughter, great mates to lot, dog owner, boxer, Pokemon collector.

Lots of layers.

Yeah, there's a bit going on.

I just do what I feel like all the time.

I just enjoy being curious.

I feel like that's probably the best way to describe it.

One photo changed everything.

A single kick.

frozen in time, shattered the internet and turned Taylor Harris into a global headline.

Debate was sparked, criticism came, then admiration and a conversation far bigger than sport.

Today she stands as one of the most recognisable, unapologetic athletes in the country.

She doesn't just face the pressures, she hunts it down.

Boxer, footballer, force of nature.

Fearless, outspoken and simply herself.

Taylor Harris is unfiltered.

The quote that I love that you live by is, it's important to hone the skill to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

When did you get comfortable being you and you stopped feeling like you had to be a different version of you to appease others?

I think it's an ongoing thing that you continue to work on and I think some days and some moments.

And some interviews you feel like you can be that and you can be really authentic and unfiltered.

How are you going here?

You feel like you can be you?

I do because I feel comfortable with you, Hayme.

Yeah.

Yeah, there's six cameras around definitely Adelaide.

But I think obviously as I've got older and more mature, dare I say, I've learnt that being authentic has its value.

As a person, I'd like to think that I am an authentic person.

And then when it comes to the media side of things, being strategic can come in there a little bit.

But in saying that, I see the value for a young person that watches on maybe this interview or other interviews of me just being candid and saying what I think and feel because I back what I say.

Then hopefully they can feel a bit more of permission to do that themselves.

And I do think that that is something that I am really...

proud of and I take really seriously is being a role model.

So this is another opportunity to do that.

So that's why.

When did you realise you were a role model?

At 21, there's an image of you taken by one of the best photographers in the game, Michael Wilson, gets posted and then life changes fast.

Young to be in such a swirl.

Yeah, normally 21, you're in a different kind of swirl at a nightclub at all hours.

But yeah, I definitely saw an opportunity to...

stand up for myself, which is something that I always did.

It was just something that mum and dad taught me was, you know, what you do, stand up for yourself and others and what you care about.

So it was just that, but on a big scale.

Online trolls were keen to tear her down, with her game day photo attracting repulsive and sexist comments.

The groundswell of support wasn't lost on Taylor, who tweeted, here's a pic of me at work.

Think about this before your derogatory comments.

animals.

There's two elements of it, obviously the actual capacity to do it and then what was said and how I was able to be articulate in a certain moment and I think it was really obviously challenging in several different ways but it was an opportunity that I grew immensely from and mind you it was in the middle of footy finals as well so there was a little bit of trying to balance everything but yeah it

was a...

Interesting time in my life, obviously, but one that I am proud of and that I look back on fondly.

The image is unbelievable athleticism.

You know, great footballer doing what she's done all her life.

But there's so many layers to what you went through.

I'm just fascinated.

When did you find out or how that there was a storm?

Did you find it online or did someone say, hey, this has got legs?

No, I found out because after the game, obviously after every game, like you get on social media and I saw this photo Michael posted or Channel 7 posted.

And obviously the photo itself was just me kicking the footy.

There's a bunch of those from when I was younger, the exact same technique.

That's just how I kick.

So I didn't think anything of it.

And so then I came back to the photo just on Facebook and on Facebook, there's a little.

preview of the comments and the preview was a comment that was particularly strange I thought it was alluding to how I looked as opposed to me kicking the footy I mean I'm obviously okay with people's commentary on how I play and people can have their opinion on if you think I can kick well or not or my technique is good or not but then it was about yeah how I looked and you know the position I

was kicking in and then I felt a bit funny about it and I was like it's a weird thing to say.

and then I clicked on more comments and then it just was like a consistent theme of sexualizing me.

Yeah, I felt quite vulnerable in this moment because obviously it's online and all of a sudden people have the opportunity to say whatever they want seemingly with no repercussions.

So I just thought that's not right.

And then I saved that photo and then posted it and just wrote the caption because it was what I was thinking.

My hamstring is okay, but sexist and derogatory comments are not.

And then I just posted it and didn't think anything of it.

Went to bed and woke up the next morning to my phone had just completely kicked off and heaps and missed calls.

People obviously felt connected and that they resonated to what I had said in the caption.

And it was a bit of a line in the sand of like, you're right, it's not okay.

And we're not going to deal with this anymore.

And I think, yeah, they were targeting me in this photo, but generally they were targeting a female athlete.

executing a kick.

And yeah, then I just kind of, it kind of hit me and I was like, I have to speak on this.

Whether I want to or can or should, it's I have to.

If you can't dream big, ridiculous dreams, what's the point of dreaming?

Yeah.

When did you dream that you might win an Australian boxing championship?

Well, I think similar to when I was growing up playing footy and assumed that I would play in the AFL.

I just believe that if you work hard enough, it will come.

And whatever's meant to come will come.

Whether that is, in this scenario, Australian boxing championship, world title.

I'll go and win a world title.

If I work hard enough, I can do that.

Me saying that, you're not going to come back to me in 10 years and say, hang on a minute, you told me this, now you owe me something because you told me you didn't do it or you did whatever.

It's like that's not how it works.

I can say whatever I want.

I can make crazy declarations about what I'm going to do and what I want to do.

I don't actually, if I end up doing them or not, it doesn't matter.

I just said it.

And then when it comes to fruition, people are surprised and like, oh, how did that happen?

It's like, well, I said I would do it.

And so I just worked hard and worked towards it.

Mike Tyson said, Everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the face in the boxing ring.

I'm not a fighter.

I'd just rather do something else.

When did you fall in love with the craft of boxing?

And what is it that you love about it?

Boxing for me isn't about the fighting.

The fighting is something you do and a way to kind of showcase your skills and test yourself.

But I'm not.

someone who wants to hurt anyone the reason that I love the sport is because when I was 12 dad and I went to the local boxing gym to do some cross training he loves boxing as well he thought it was growing up he thought it was a good form of cross training so started as fitness yeah started as fitness at the local PCYC so I had my first fight and Aaron said you know I think you got what it takes

and I said sure I'll give it a go and so I get in the ring, I'm wearing footy shorts and I'm like, you know, easy going.

I'm like, oh, this will be great.

I've hit the pads and, you know, I can, he said I can do it, so I'll give it a go.

And I did and it went well for me and not for the other girl.

Her nose has seen better days.

But yeah, I loved it.

I loved the opportunity to perform in front of people.

And I think something that would surprise everyone is I feel like I'm the most calm in a boxing fight.

because you don't have any other option.

Like you need to be present.

People think that boxing is this violent sport that you're going to definitely get concast or whatever.

That's not the case at all.

And for me, certainly the reason I do it isn't to be violent at all.

It's quite the opposite.

It's a dance routine almost.

Yeah, really proud to advocate for the sport because it isn't what people think it is.

They're going to stop this.

He's going to stop it here, Tony.

Wow.

Wow.

Australian Middle League champion, Taylor Thurman!

I want to make my coaches proud.

I want to make my family proud.

And something that I set out to do is prove people right, prove the people that back me right, as opposed to prove people wrong.

If you don't believe in me, that's your problem.

But if you do believe in me, I'll make a point to make sure I prove to you that you've made the right call and I'll give it everything.

And that doesn't mean winning all the time.

That my most recent fight I lost and I'm most proud of that fight.

Several things happened in the lead up to that fight.

One of which being, oh, sorry.

My, I know this is probably great for the cameras, but I feel very uncomfortable right now.

My pop passed away coming up to that fight.

And he, I...

He boxed growing up, so I think...

I wanted to make him proud, and so, yeah, when he passed away, he had dementia, which made it so much worse.

Anyone who has had a family member go through their nose, like, that's tough, but...

Every time I went and visited Brisbane, he seemed to always remember that I boxed.

And so him and I would do a bit of shadow boxing, you know, in the living room.

But it was important that I turned up and still did it.

And yeah, I certainly was going to give absolutely everything to that fight.

The reality is that everything that I had to give was not at the standard.

that I would expect of myself.

Like I didn't fight the way I wanted to fight.

The fight itself didn't go.

When I review it, it's kind of like, oh, you know, obviously I would have done that differently and obviously I would have used my jab more and asserted my distance more and owned the centre of the ring and all these sorts of things.

But all of that was completely overshadowed because of the fact that I got in there and I went eight rounds with a recent Commonwealth Games medalist, Millie, who my opponent was absolutely on fire that night.

In that moment, like I was so proud of myself that, Yeah, I was disappointed and it was on TV and it was in front of everyone and I was the favourite and whatnot.

But I'm not the kind of person that needs, you know, needs redemption and all this sort of shit.

Like, yeah, I'll fight again and I'll fight again for myself and again to make people proud and I'll work hard and I'll do the training camp and I'll get as fit as I'll ever be in my life and all that sort of stuff will happen.

But it's not to redeem myself from losing.

It's just to give it another go, like just to see what happens.

And failure isn't an issue for me.

Failing is the reason that I am here and the reason that we're even doing this interview because I failed along the way so many times.

So I've had a job since I was 12 and I made a declaration, I'm going to buy it back for you.

I feel so fortunate to have crossed paths with Daze while she's playing.

Where's the documentary?

Your father's a huge influence in your life.

Was he the first person you had a kick to kick with?

Yeah, Dad played footy.

He played AFL for Queensland, but also for Everton Walls when he was in juniors and then Sandgate Hawks.

Alex Chesilenko was his coach at one point for the Hawks, Sandgate Hawks in Queensland.

Player coach.

And Dad has a fax from him, from Alex Chesilenko, saying essentially, like, come and play for us or come and train on it.

Carlton or something along those lines.

Are you a bike mechanic and practical and can change the carburetor on your car because you hung around with your dad a lot?

Yeah, having a mechanic for a dad meant that I learnt a lot and I learnt how to fix things and that if there's a problem, you have to fix it.

Like, you can't just buy a new one.

Like, I think I really enjoyed the fact that growing up I didn't fall into the trap of just replacing things.

tried my best to fix them and sometimes you don't fix them to 100 % but then they still kind of work or maybe it's even better because you've found a new way to do things.

Your first bike was a treasure and was your only way around.

Yeah, I loved riding my push bike around the streets.

I think I feel for some of the kids growing up now who don't really have the lifestyle that I did growing up riding your bike until the street lights come on and then that's the cue for dinner and I feel like I was really fortunate to grow up in that.

One of Dad's.

customers for a boat happened to own the local bike shop.

Dad said, can my daughter come and learn how to fix a bike at the bike shop?

And then so I worked on Saturdays, every Saturday for like 50 bucks and I learned how to fix bikes and then I took it upon myself to go and sell bikes on the floor as well.

So yeah, I was a 12 year old, which is probably illegal, but I was a 12 year old.

Everything's illegal in Australia.

Yeah, but it was a good way to learn how to have responsibility.

So I've had a job since I was 12.

Earning and making a commitment.

At 15, you said to your father, I'm going to buy you the car that you had to sell to get all the family in the new car.

Explain that.

Yeah, when I think about my proudest moments, obviously there's winning the premiership and there's winning the Australian boxing title.

For me, buying Dad his dream car is absolutely up the top.

The story goes, when I was younger, obviously he would speak about this car that he's got printed out photos of.

And this is his pride and joy.

He loved it.

He built it himself, got the body and changed all the engine.

Being a mechanic, he did everything.

The car of his choice was the Ford Falcon XB Coupe.

So yeah, being a coupe is two -door and obviously not really the family car that most would opt for.

So when me and my brother...

were born, came into the picture, he had to sell that car and get a more family appropriate car.

And as I got older, I hear about this car and it's this, it feels like it's this magical vehicle that dad's so proud of.

And it just like drove him to the ends of the earth and whatever.

The way that those cars have increased in value is pretty exceptional.

So they're an investment if nothing else.

And so realistically, he wasn't going to be able to.

get that car again unless it was later in life and they win the lotto and that, you know, that's how he's going to get that car back.

And as a teenager, I heard that and I made a declaration, well, I'm going to buy it back for you.

Yeah, I saved up.

I'd mow the lawn for $10 or wash the car for $10 and I'd take that and I'd say, I'm going to, you know, I'm going to buy dad's car with this.

And then the kicking photo thing happened.

And then obviously from that, there's a few opportunities with sponsors, which was new to me.

And so now I've got this.

this money coming in.

Having all these endorsement deals was just the best thing ever.

And as soon as I started to make money, I was like, this is going directly to dad's car fund.

So what's the moment like when you surprise your father with such an incredibly material gift?

Yeah, so I, well, the story was, so it's in Sydney.

So then we put it on the back of the truck, go up, get it, drive it in the driveway.

do a little beep and rev the engine and whatnot.

Dad comes out, what's going on?

And I handed in the keys.

I said, this is for you.

And he thought that it was maybe a rental or I'd borrowed it.

And obviously he's like, what's going on?

When do we have to return it?

And how long do we got it for?

And I was like, it's yours.

Like, I've bought this car for you.

And he's just, he couldn't accept it.

Like, he couldn't believe it, I suppose.

And then he went quite.

quiet and dad doesn't often go quiet and so he's just kind of enjoying it and cruising around and we're sitting in there and going around North Pine Dam doing a nice cruise and yeah and he's just like you can tell like he's processing it all and then yeah it gives me obviously the world's biggest hug and and thanks me and feels feels like he's quite emotional like I think dad um dad not talking is

equally as much as him crying hysterically like he's yeah he's um that's his highly emotional state yeah yeah yeah And so, yeah, to do that for Dad and now, like, it's our thing.

It's how we connect.

Every day he'll call me and tell me what the car's doing.

And Melbourne, our first WP, for the first time, it's a brand new flag.

The influence of Daisy on you when you arrived at Melbourne.

Oh, Daisy's just...

I can see your smile already.

Yeah, I feel so fortunate to have cross paths with Days while she's playing.

Yeah, she's a great footballer, but we're different footballers.

So I wasn't watching her take huge speckies.

I was watching her as a human being.

And yeah, the way she led the group was pretty exceptional.

It wasn't as if she was...

It wasn't as if she was doing anything that was outside of herself.

I think that was what I learned is that she was just her all the time.

The fact that she had twins...

Not even just one baby.

She had to just outdo it and do two babies and then come back and win the best and fairest for the teams.

Like from an athletic feat, like that's for me up there with any league best and fairest you can win, any Australian, whatever.

If you've had a baby and come back and played and then perform, like, or even come back and played, like I just.

Yeah, full stop.

Where's the documentary?

This woman is a super.

And I'm so proud to know her and to be friends with her and to be able to just text her randomly and say, hey, what's up?

I've learnt so much off Daisy Pearce.

You and I both have such a great relationship with her.

I think we're pretty lucky.

She's one of my favourite humans.

She said to you, I think, or maybe you learnt this from her, teammates first, no distractions.

Is that sort of her, the way she goes about it?

Yeah, I think she's definitely, she's the player's captain.

A genuine friendship.

And also a teammate that I can rely on.

And a captain and a role model and a mum and a footy club ambassador and an AFL commentator and all of the above, but a great friend.

So, yeah.

Thanks for an awesome day.

I'm like, well, now I've got titanium.

I'm screwed in, completely reinforced and upgraded and ready to smash through.

anything which means nothing to some but something to someone.

You're busy playing football, injury behind you, shoulders good, new coach.

Yeah I'm screwed in I've got both shoulders completely reconstructed and there's two big screws going through both of them.

Do they stay in forever?

Yeah well I asked the surgeon and I said is there any kind of risk here and he's like oh you'd have to have some sort of major car accident for it to dislodge like real proudly because he's done such a great job and I was like perfect I'll go up until that point and so now when I play I'm just like more than ever, I'm like, well now I've got titanium, I'm screwed in, I'm gonna go harder.

I'm now reinforced.

He said to me, he's like, well you wouldn't buy a car or a boat and not expect to upgrade it or service it.

So here I am now, completely reinforced and upgraded and ready to smash through anything.

Pokemon cards.

My 10 year old started collecting Pokemon cards.

He has not done what you've done and turned it into an art form.

What I did is listen to someone who knew what they were talking about.

I think the thing that I endeavour to do in my whole life all the time is to surround myself with people who are smarter than me.

I can see that.

And never assume that I know more than anyone else.

If there's one thing I know more than anyone else, it's about my two dogs.

That's it.

Everything else, someone knows more.

One of my boxing coaches, Jake, he owns a collection, a collectibles, a company called Welcome Stranger Collectibles.

And he's always going on about...

Pokemon cards and he thinks that it's the thing.

This is back in 2019 -ish.

He's like, it's going to boom.

It's going to go through the roof.

Watch.

It'll be a better investment than a house.

It'll be whatever.

And I'm like, can you believe it?

Oh, I'm on board.

I said, here's $5 ,000.

Can you buy me a bunch of cards?

And if it goes well, great.

If not, as per the graph, it'll kind of stay and I'm not going to lose, really, unless something tragic happens.

Bought me a...

Charizard, he's telling me all about it.

He's so passionate.

I'm just like, this is awesome.

Cool, like I love it.

Put him in the safe and kind of do it.

I look at them, but it's not like I'm out here trying to trade him or anything.

And they're all graded and all this sort of stuff.

So they're PSA 10, which means nothing to some, but something to someone.

Now fast forward to 2026.

The cards that I have, I could sell supposedly for like more than a hundred grand, which is like obviously ridiculous.

Proved to me again that like you just, If someone's deeply passionate about something, back them and it might work out.

It might not, but it might.

Wedding celebrant?

Yes.

What's the process?

Well, you've got to study, you've got to learn about...

Arduous or...?

Oh, it's not too bad, but there's a lot of legal stuff that you've got to be aware of.

I get to be a part of people's special day.

It's pretty fun to be at a wedding.

Coming back to your getting comfortable being uncomfortable thing.

Yeah.

You do it all the time.

Well, yeah, I see opportunities to test myself and some of them, the stakes are higher and others like this, I just get to do something quite unique and cool.

I hope my daughter's become the brilliant young woman that you are.

Thanks, Ham.

Your father is an incredibly lucky guy.

I don't know your mum, but thank you for chatting.

Thank you for showing a lot of people a lot of things.

Thank you.

Awesome to talk.

Thanks, Ham.

Appreciate it.

Well done.