Kellie Harrington, who won a Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has booked herself a spot in the Paris 2024 semi-finals, guaranteeing herself at least a Bronze Olympic medal this year.
Harrington, 34, defeated Angie Valdas Pana of Colombia by unanimous decision on Wednesday in Paris. This comes after she beat Alessia Mesiano of Italy in the preliminaries on Monday.
Cementing her place in Saturday's quarter-finals, Harrington has guaranteed Team Ireland's third medal of the 2024 Paris games - swimmer Mona McSharry won Bronze on Monday, and swimmer Daniel Wiffen won a historic Gold on Tuesday.
She has also written herself into Irish history by becoming the first Irish woman to win a medal at two Olympic Games.
Ahead of this year's Olympic games, Harrington indicated that she hopes 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 one step closer.
It’s Kellie’s world, we’re just living in it ??
Kellie has become the first Irish woman to win a medal at two Olympic Games ✍️ herself into the history books.
Kellie ?#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/wKfCgodqnO
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 31, 2024
Speaking with RTÉ Sport after her win on Wednesday, Harrington responded to some recent media coverage that said she was set to face a 'decent opponent' in the quarter-finals.
"Let me tell you something here and now, every person in these games, in the Olympic games, is a brilliant opponent. There are no easy fights here, there are no easy contests here, they're all hard," Harrington said.
"Nobody gets to the Olympic games without being the absolute top of their game.
"Any fight is a hard fight, is a tricky fight. That's all I have to say."
Reflecting on her bout, Harrington said: "I felt relaxed going in there. I listened to what the coaches were telling me, and it was working. I felt the fight myself, and I enjoyed it in there.
"These are the times I need to be enjoying because the boots will be getting hung up soon.
"I'll actually do a couple more national championships, but internationally, I think I'll be finished. I don't know but, at 60 kg, definitely."
'These are the times I need to be enjoying because the boots will be getting hung up soon' - Kellie Harrington speaks to @JoeStack_Ky after reaching the Olympic semi-final #RTESport #Paris2024 #boxing
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 31, 2024
? Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
?Updates https://t.co/01ShZjM17C pic.twitter.com/sea5T5dkdo
Harrington received a boost back home in Dublin on Wednesday when the North East Inner City Initiative and Dublin City Council hosted a live screening of her quarter-final bout at the Diamond Park Basketball Court, not far from Harrington's family home in Portland Row.
Hundreds of people gathered to cheer on their hometown hero.
Hundreds gather in Diamond Park in Dublins north inner city to see local hero Kellie Harrington box in an Olympic quarter final @rtenews @RTEsport pic.twitter.com/l08DJCMWdO
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) July 31, 2024
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