Irish boxer Kellie Harrington knew there was only one way to celebrate her historic Gold medal win at the Olympics last night, Tuesday, August 6 - by launching into an impromptu rendition of “Grace.”
Harrington, donning her new Gold medal, led more than 100 people in an emotional singsong of the classic Irish song "Grace" after Tuesday night's medal ceremony.
After the cheering stopped. Kellie Harrington, double Olympic champion pic.twitter.com/mXjIt4IR6V
— Chris (@chrisdotlatchem) August 6, 2024
Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times said on X afterward that the Olympic media handlers kept trying to break up the singsong, but eventually gave up.
It was Harrington's "easiest win of the night," he said.
Kellie just led around 150 Irish fans in the Arena in a rendition of Grace. The Olympic media handlers kept trying to break it up and bring her to do her TV stuff. They eventually gave up. Her easiest win of the night.
— Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) August 6, 2024
Poignantly, back at her home in Dublin's Portland Row, Harrington's parents were doing the exact same thing to celebrate.
Neighbors gathered near the Harrington family home under tricolor bunting to celebrate Ireland's newest Gold medal winner with their own rendition of "Grace."
Kellie Harrington’s parents Christy and Yvonne celebrate in song on Portland Row after their daughter won a second Olympic gold medal.
Incredible scenes ☘️🥇👏 pic.twitter.com/kfici5vQLN
— Luke Delaney (@luke_delaney4) August 6, 2024
A huge contingent of Irish fans flooded Roland Garros Stadium on Tuesday night to bear witness to Harrington's history-making bout.
“To have the support of the nation. It is just amazing,” Harrington said afterward, according to the AP.
“The people here today lifted me. They made me feel like I wasn’t tired and I was exhausted.”
The impromptu performance capped off a historic night for 34-year-old Harrington who became the first Irish female athlete to not only win medals at two Olympic Games, but to win two Gold medals.
Harrington won after a split decision over China’s Wenlu Yang in the Boxing Women's 60kg Final at Roland Garros Stadium on Tuesday night. The Irish boxer had already been guaranteed an Olympic medal after progressing from the semi-finals last week.
Ahead of this year's Olympic games, Harrington indicated that she had hoped to become the only Irish athlete since hammer thrower Pat O’Callaghan (Gold in 1928 and 1932) to successfully defend an Olympic title by winning Gold in Paris.
She's now done it, joining fellow Irish rower Paul O'Donovan who this year also defended his Gold medal from 2020/2021.
Harrington's Gold medal officially brought Team Ireland's medal haul to seven (four Gold medals and three Bronze medals), bumping Ireland into the 12th spot on the Paris 2024 medal table.
With a second Gold medal secured, Harrington announced that she will be retiring from boxing.
“I’m done and dusted,” Harrington said, according to the AP.
“I’m going to go out a champion. That’s the way I want to go out. I don’t want to go out and lose a fight and then retire.
"I’ll retire happy.”
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