Amy deserves every chance to realise her Olympic dream
ON THURSDAY, a few hours before it emerged Amy Broadhurst had made the bombshell request to switch from Ireland to Team GB in an effort to realise her Olympic dream, Republic of Ireland women’s manager Eileen Gleeson had to tackle the thorny issue of fluid nationality within international football.
Aston Villa’s Anna Patten, a former England under-age captain, had been named in Gleeson’s squad for the Euro 2025 qualifiers against France and England. Patten’s inclusion adds some depth to Ireland’s defensive resources but as was pointed out, it wasn’t so long ago that she was on the pathway to the English senior team.
The Irish manager made the point that this was just a fact of life in international football and Patten, whose grandparents came from Donegal and Galway, has a deep connection to this country. That’s the thing about nationality in an increasingly globalised world – it is possible to feel both Irish and English.
Look who was captaining England against Belgium last Tuesday. The FA marked Declan Rice’s 53rd senior international appearance by making the Arsenal star skipper. It was apt that this happened on the same night as Ireland’s deep and troubling midfield issues were again laid bare against Switzerland and one couldn’t but curse Martin
O’Neill for not taking Rice off the bench against Moldova seven years ago.
Which brings us back to Broadhurst. She should be commended for exploring all options to follow her Olympic dream. The talented Dundalk native is 27 years of age and boxing may not even be part of the Los Angeles Games in 2028 – at present, it is not on the programme. This might be the former world and European champion’s last chance.
She grew up very aware of her English heritage through her dad, Tony, who is from Slough, outside London. Indeed she moved to the English capital at one point, winning an ABA elite title for the Islington boxing club. However, she came home after being given assurances that she would get the opportunity to represent Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics at her natural 60kg weight.
Kellie Harrington’s decision to remain amateur status and seek to defend her Olympic title complicated matters. Broadhurst initially moved up to super-lightweight (63kg), where she won the world, European and Commonwealth titles, before having to jump again to welterweight (66kg) as that was an Olympic category.
The High Performance Unit felt that Gráinne Walsh deserved another chance at qualifying at 66kg after being robbed by a scandalous judging decision in the last Olympic qualifiers. And that left Broadhurst out in the cold, her Olympic dream in tatters.
So, why shouldn’t she go down another avenue if it is open to her? There is no guarantee that she will be competing for Team GB in Paris – their current 60kg champion Shona Whitwell only
lost to Harrington on a split decision at last year’s Europeans.
A Dubliner has captained the England cricketers to great success. A former Ireland international captained Gareth Southgate’s team last week. In rugby, we cheer on Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park. Nationality is now fluid in international sport.
Broadhurst’s decision to switch to Team GB simply illustrates the depth of talent in Irish boxing, which is something to be proud of. And just imagine if her path does cross with Harrington inside the ring in Paris.