Exemplary win

Katie’s fifth title

By any criteria Katie Taylor’s victory in South Korea, which made her lightweight boxing world champion for the fifth time, is exceptional. That that half decade saw the relentless Bray boxer take European titles and culminated with an Olympic gold medal in London puts Taylor in a category all of her own in Irish sports history.

That only one other woman — India’s Mary Kom — has won five world titles puts Taylor’s achievement in an even a more elevated and special category. The very real prospect that she might add a sixth title — if that is not being too greedy — would put her in a unique position.

Taylor’s greatest achievement may, however, not be in the arena of sports. Arguably, her greatest gift to Ireland is the example she offers. She achieved greatness in her chosen sport long before she reaped any of the rewards many professional sports people regard as everyday. She showed time and time again that talent is a wasted gift unless it is amplified by the almost endless hours of hard slog needed to exploit it. A very valuable lesson for anyone who cares to learn it.