Kellie Harrington made history by becoming the fourth Irish athlete to win medals at two different Olympic games in the last 96 years, after she beat Colombian boxer Angie Valdas Pana, to assure at least a bronze medal.
Reacting afterwards, Kellie Harrington revealed that she did not know about the significance of her historic win “because I haven’t really had time to think about it”.
The boxer also spoke about the messages of support that she has received, including a very typical Irish mammy text message, and a message from her brother.
“My brother texted me the other day and said, ‘if 14-year-old Kellie Harrington had thought she’d be here now... she probably never would have believed it", Harrington said. “I copied and sent the message to my mam. She said, ‘No, you’re right, you were a little sh*t back then! Still a little sh*t now but you have two Olympic medals!"".
Despite enjoying an impressive career which has seen her garner World Championship, European Championship, and European Games medals, to go with her double Olympic feat, Kellie Harrington remains unaware of her place in history.
“When we came out here on the 29th [of July] and I stepped in the ring and stepped back out of the ring, I became a double Olympian. That’s history and I’m very, very proud of myself,” she said.
“Today, I became a double Olympic medallist, that’s more history, and I’m very, very proud of myself, and I just know that I have people up there above looking down on me and they’re with me every step of the way".
Having said that winning gold in Tokyo was for her fans, Kellie Harrington has stated that any success achieved in Paris is for herself.
“It’s about me doing it for me, and me being happy again, and being happy in what I’m doing, and I’m happy, I’m enjoying it. I’ve said it from day one, whatever happens, happens", she said.
Harrington comfortably defeated her opponent on an unanimous 5-0 decision, and will return to the ring for her semi final bout on Saturday night
