YOU’VE DONE US PROUD, KELLIE
Taoiseach leads tributes to our Olympic golden girl
KELLIE Harrington burst into tears as she won gold in the lightweight boxing final in Tokyo, after delivering an exceptional performance in the sport that has brought Ireland two female Olympic champions within nine years.
Thanks to her talent and determination, Ireland has its eleventh Olympic champion, and third world-beating boxer – after Michael Carruth in 1992 and Katie Taylor in 2018 – and its 18th medallist in the noble art.
The Taoiseach led messages of congratulations to the Dublin woman, as the nation revelled in her success.
Harrington came into the bout never having boxed the reigning world champion, Brazillian Beatriz Ferreira, before.
In the opening round, she had the edge on Kellie with the judges scoring 3-2 to Ferreira. However, Kellie came out in force to win rounds two and three, and go on to write herself into the history books after a unanimous points decision.
Harrington said: ‘To have the support of a nation backing you is just... it’s actually hard to believe. I actually feel the nation has been behind me.
‘I knew it was 3-2 after the first round. I just went back out and kept control and just did what I could do because if I had gone out and tried to put the pressure on and rushing, then that’s her game. I just stuck to my plan. Her game is the counter, because she’s strong. She’s small and she’s really, really good at what she does, so I just stuck to my game and stuck to what John and Zaur had planned, and it worked,’ she said.
On the next generation, she said: ‘The amount of lovely messages that I have got just saying I’m inspiring the young kids coming up, and the way I carry myself, that I’ve made the country proud – that’s my goal.
‘To be able to inspire the next generation coming up, to be able to carry myself well so that kids coming up can carry themselves well – this is what it’s all about.’
Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated the members of Team Ireland as their hugely successful Tokyo campaign ended today. He said: ‘As the Tokyo Olympics draws to a close, the whole country is so proud of every member of Team Ireland.
‘Sport is such an important and essential aspect of Irish life. We have all shared the collective highs, and have been inspired by the achievements of our athletes.
‘Their performances throughout these Games have lifted the spirits of our nation. Team Ireland returns from Tokyo with two gold medals and two bronze medals, and many more historic and inspirational performances. As lightweight boxing gold medallist Kellie Harrington said of our athletes today: “We are all champions.” Today, we celebrate everyone who wore the green jersey. You did Ireland proud.’
President Michael D. Higgins also paid tribute to our latest Olympic hero on Twitter: ‘My warmest congratulations to Kellie Harrington on winning her gold medal at the Olympic Games. Hers is an exceptional achievement and she is an inspiration for us all.’
Ciarán Bates, coach at Kellie’s training grounds, St Mary’s Boxing Club in Tallaght, told RTÉ that Ferreira is a good fighter but her boxing ability is not on the same level as Kellie’s.
He is preparing for the flood of members joining his club after her stellar performance.
‘It’s hard to even tell how much impact this is going to have on the club,’ Mr Bates explained. ‘We are going to have to make extensions for all the new members.’
Green Party TD for Tallaght Central, Liam Sinclair, said that more needs to be done by the Government to encourage a new wave of young athletes. Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail he said: ‘We are incredibly proud of her. She is a fantastic athlete and just such a genuine and likeable person. People like my daughter get to grow up and watch role models like herself, so I am very pleased.
‘Historic and inspirational’
‘You can see that the Olympics comes around every four years and we all really enjoy a different variety of sports, so there is such a lack of funding that’s coming in that. Especially when you compare it to what the Government is willing to fund, giving €20million to greyhound racing, which is a business that should be running itself.
There is €4million to athletics in the last budget. I hope that stories like Kellie’s and our other gold medallists show that there is potential for great growth for sports in Ireland, not even just to achieve what that young woman has achieved, but to be fit, healthy and active at a young age.’
Tallaght Central People Before Profit TD Kieran Mahon said he is blown away by Kellie as an athlete and a person. He told the Mail: ‘Communities all across the country will connect with the brilliant scenes from Portland Row and Dublin 1.
‘It’s a great result also for St Mary’s Boxing Club and Dominic’s Tallaght who have a great tradition. Sports clubs in working class communities across the State are struggling to survive or get established, so it’s time for a massive increase in facilities and funding to provide outlets for young people to thrive and prosper in their chosen sports.’
Local councillor for Fianna Fáil, Teresa Costello told the Mail that Harrington has given Ireland a huge boost after a difficult 18 months: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled with her success; I just think she is so inspirational.
‘I was listening to her on the
AFTER inner city Dublin’s own Kellie Harrington became Olympic champion, Portland Row erupted in celebration.
Her parents Yvonne and Christy Harrington emerged from their home to scenes of jubilation – locals wrapped in tricolours, surrounded by bunting and posters of the 31-year-old.
There was hardly a dry eye in sight following hours of nerves and anticipation.
A projector screen was erected on the packed street, as neighbours, children, parents and grandparents came to watch and celebrate the newly-crowned champion, with everyone popping bottles of champagne and dancing on the street.
Kellie’s mother Yvonne decided against watching the fight but knew of her daughter’s victory when she heard the cheers. ‘We are all just delighted,’ she said.
‘She deserved it. We heard all the people cheering and we know she won it. I would give her a big hug and say well done.’
Mr Harrington emerged from their family home with tears in his eyes and clutching two bottles of champagne, and said: ‘It’s magic, just magic. I am speechless. As the fight was going on, Kellie was stronger mentally and physically.’
Kellie’s brother Christopher said: ‘It was iconic and it will take a while to see it happen again. Can’t wait to get her home on Tuesday.’
Speaking after her win, Harrington said: ‘I feel relief, we are all champions, anyone who steps between those ropes are champions.
‘Every fight has been a tough fight, every fight has been a gold medal fight. It’s fantastic and I can’t wait to get back home and sleep on the couch.
‘I am exhausted. There has been
‘It will take a while to see this happening again’
times in my career when people say the whole country is behind you, this time I really feel the whole country is behind me.
‘People might say that’s pressure, that you have weight on your shoulders, but I really didn’t because I know no matter what happened out here today, whether it was gold or silver, I knew I would make myself proud and the people of Ireland proud, regardless of the colour of the medal.’
Harrington’s success marks the first time Ireland have won gold in two different sports at the same Olympics, with rowers Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan triumphing in the men’s lightweight double sculls earlier in the Games last week.
Following in the footsteps of Katie Taylor in 2012 and Michael Carruth who made history at Barcelona 1992, topping the podium in the men’s welterweight category, Kellie is the third Irish boxer to go all the way in the event. Kellie plans to return to work as a part-time cleaner at St Vincent’s Hospital Fairview after a two or threeweek break and said: ‘I’m an Olympic champion but it doesn’t define me as a person.’
The excitement surrounding her win extended to her workplace, with her colleagues at St Vincent’s congratulating her in a statement: ‘All of us at St Vincent’s Hospital Fairview offer a big congratulations to Kellie Harrington on winning a gold medal this morning at the Tokyo Olympic Games. What an achievement, with such skill and determination.
‘This is such a proud achievement for Kellie, and for her family and many friends. She was such an inspiration to all of us throughout this Olympic Games.
‘Getting to an Olympic final and taking home a gold medal is a remarkable achievement.
‘Kellie is not just an outstanding sportswoman, but also a valued and dedicated staff member here at the hospital. We are so proud of her and we look forward to seeing her back here in the hospital in the coming days.’