History maker Harrington becomes first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic Games

Harrington took gold in Tokyo in 2021.

HAPPY DAYS: Kellie Harrington of Team Ireland celebrates with Team Ireland head coach Zaur Antia, obscured, and coach Damian Kennedy. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Kellie Harrington took all the pressure that was on her and weaponised it in the Paris Arena as she became the first Irishwoman to win medals at two Olympic games. 

The lightweight secured a unanimous decision win over Columbian Angie Paola Valdes Pana.

The manner of her victory was simple, but the achievement is anything but. A unanimous 5-0 decision on scores of 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-8, 29-28 means she is just the fourth Irish athlete to win Olympic medals at two different games.

Her southpaw opponent strived to box on the counter. 

Harrington was far too clinical to allow herself to get caught by that. A 3-2 scorecard in the second round did raise eyebrows as the five judges appeared overly generous to the Columbian. 

Nevertheless, it mattered little to the final result.

It came after five Irish boxers lost their opening bout in Paris. In April Harrington experienced her first defeat in three years. None of that toll showed.

“I felt relaxed going in there. I listened to what the coaches were telling me and it was working,” Harrington told RTÉ post-fight.

“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 60kgs definitely.” Her semi-final opponent will be confirmed on Wednesday night. 

Brazil’s Beatriz ‘Beast’ Ferreira, who Harrington defeated in the Tokyo gold medal fight, takes on Chelsey Heijnen of the Netherlands. Ferreira is also the current holder of the IBF lightweight title in the pro ranks.

“Let me tell you something here and now right, every person in these games, in the Olympic Games, is a brilliant opponent. There is no easy fights here,” Harrington said.

“There is no easy contests here, they are all hard. Nobody gets to an Olympic Games without being at the absolute top of their game.”