Kellie Harrington Explained

Kellie Harrington
Full Name:Kellie Anne Harrington
Nationality:Irish
Birth Date:1989 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Weight Class:Lightweight (60 kg)
Light welterweight (64 kg)
Club:St Mary's Boxing Club
(Tallaght, Dublin)
Medaltemplates:[1]
Show-Medals:yes

Kellie Anne Harrington OLY (born 11 December 1989)[2] is an Irish retired amateur boxer. During her career she was double Olympic gold medalist, winning at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and 2018 World champion. Harrington also won gold medals at the 2023 European Games and European Championship.

Career

She won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2017 Women's European Union Boxing Championships and a bronze at the 2018 Women's European Boxing Championships.[3] [4]

She won the gold medal in the lightweight division at the 2018 Women's World Boxing Championships. She was the silver medallist in the light welterweight division at the 2016 Women's World Boxing Championships.[5]

2020 Summer Olympics

Harrington won the 2020 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament, by defeating Caroline Dubois on a split decision in the final.[6]

Harrington was part of the Ireland team at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She was one of the flag bearers for Ireland at the opening ceremony on 23 July.[7] She competed in the lightweight division of the boxing competition. In her first fight, she defeated Rebecca Nicoli 5–0 to advance to the quarter-finals,[8] where she then defeated Imane Khelif 5–0 to guarantee at least a bronze medal.[9] In her semi-final on 5 August, Harrington defeated Sudaporn Seesondee 3–2 to advance to the final.[10] [11] [12] In her final on 8 August, Harrington defeated Beatriz Ferreira 5–0, winning the gold medal and becoming Ireland's third Olympic boxing champion.[13] President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Harrington on her win, along with Katie Taylor and Michael Carruth.[14] [15]

2023 European Games

Harrington won gold at the 2023 European Games in Poland, defeating Natalia Shadrina from Serbia in the final by unanimous decision.[16] [17]

2024 Summer Olympics

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Harrington was given a bye into the second round,[18] where she defeated Italy's Alessia Mesiano by unanimous decision.[19] [20] In the third round she secured another unanimous decision win, this time over Angie Valdés from Colombia.[21] [22] Harrington defeated Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira by 4:1 split decision in the semi-finals.[23] [24] In the final she defeated Yang Wenlu from China on a 4:1 split decision and took the gold medal.[25] [26] This made her the first Irish boxer to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.[27] After the fight Harrington announced her retirement from boxing.[28] [29] [30] [31]

Recognition

For International Women's Day in 2022, An Post launched a stamp collection of Irish sportswomen which featured Harrington and others.[32]

Harrington was joint grand marshal with Ellen Keane at the Dublin St Patrick's Day parade on 17 March 2022.[33]

In 2022, she was awarded the freedom of Dublin city.[34]

Personal life

Harrington is from Dublin's north inner city and is a member of St. Mary's Boxing Club, Tallaght.[35] At age 15, she developed an interest in boxing, and attempted to join the local boxing club, only to be told that they would not accept girls.[36] But Harrington persisted, was eventually admitted, and made rapid progress in her boxing career.[36]

She has stated that she intends to return to her part-time cleaning job at St Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital in Dublin, regardless of her result at the Olympics.[37]

Harrington has been in a relationship with Mandy Loughlin since 2009 after meeting her through boxing,[38] and was one of at least 180 openly gay athletes at the 2020 Olympic games.[39] Harrington and Loughlin married in Dublin on 8 April 2022.[40]

In October 2022, Harrington released her autobiography called Kellie which was written with Roddy Doyle.[41]

On 2 April 2023, Harrington announced her withdrawal from social media following a backlash as a result of a tweet from GB News relating to immigration, which she shared and subsequently deleted. She refused to address the issue in a subsequent Newstalk interview,[42] but later issued a statement and an apology.[43]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kellie Harrington claims gold with victory at the European Games . 1 July 2023 . . 1 July 2023 . en.
  2. http://iaba.ie/team-ireland-senior-female-2/ Kellie Harrington
  3. News: Kellie Harrington settles for silver at the European Union Boxing Championship . 10 November 2018 . . 12 August 2017.
  4. News: Harrington and Walsh win bronze medals at European Championships . 10 November 2018 . . 11 June 2018.
  5. News: 'I'm numb' - Ecstatic Kellie Harrington wins World Championships gold . 24 November 2018 . . 24 November 2018.
  6. News: Caroline Dubois takes silver at European qualifying event for Tokyo Games . South London Press . 9 June 2021 . 20 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Brendan Irvine and Kellie Harrington carry Irish flag at opening ceremony . 23 July 2021 . Irish Times . 4 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Tokyo 2020: Classy Harrington strolls into quarter-finals . 30 July 2021 . RTE Sport . 4 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Kellie Harrington wins quarter-final to secure Olympic bronze medal . 3 August 2021 . The 42 . 4 August 2021.
  10. Web site: Tokyo 2020: Kellie Harrington going for gold after boxer shines in semi win over Sudaporn Seesondee . 5 August 2021 . RTE Sport . 4 August 2021.
  11. Web site: Kellie Harrington wins Olympic boxing semi-final in Tokyo . 5 August 2021 . The 42 . 4 August 2021.
  12. News: Tokyo 2020 Day 13: Kellie Harrington secures at least silver in boxing . The Irish Times . 5 August 2021 . 5 August 2021.
  13. News: Tokyo 2020: Kellie Harrington lands lightweight Olympic gold after dominant display . . . 8 August 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  14. News: President Michael D. Higgins congratulates 'inspiration' Kellie Harrington . . 8 August 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  15. News: Tokyo 2020: Katie Taylor and Michael Carruth lead Harrington tributes . . . 8 August 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Kellie Harrington claims gold medal at European Games as Jack Marley takes home silver. July 2023 . RTE. 6 August 2024.
  17. Web site: 'The last one was for the country, this one is for me' – Kellie Harrington wins gold medal at European Games. July 2023 . Irish Independent. 6 August 2024.
  18. Web site: Paris Olympic Boxing – DRAW + FIGHT TIMES. 25 July 2024 . Irish Boxing. 25 July 2024.
  19. Web site: Flawless Kellie Harrington moves to win one win of second Olympic medal. 29 July 2024 . Irish Boxing. 31 July 2024.
  20. Web site: Defending champion Harrington wins boxing opener. 29 July 2024 . BBC Sport. 31 July 2024.
  21. Web site: Second Olympic medal secured - but Harrington has no intention of settling for bronze ahead of possible battle with 'The Beast'. 31 July 2024 . Irish News. 31 July 2024.
  22. Web site: Double Delight – Kellie Harrington is a two-time Olympic medal winner. 31 July 2024 . Irish Boxing. 31 July 2024.
  23. Web site: Harrington defeats Ferreira to reach Olympic final. 3 August 2024 . BBC Sport. 4 August 2024.
  24. Web site: Kellie Harrington to fight for second Olympic gold medal after stunning semi-final win. Irish Times. 4 August 2024.
  25. Web site: DOUBLE GOLD – Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington makes history. 6 August 2024 . Irish Boxing. 6 August 2024.
  26. Web site: Sensational Kellie Harrington seals Olympic legacy with second gold medal victory. 6 August 2024 . Irish Examiner. 6 August 2024.
  27. https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/boxing-irelands-harrington-has-no-more-mountains-climb-after-second-gold-2024-08-06/
  28. Web site: Kellie Harrington announces retirement after incredible second Olympic gold. 6 August 2024 . Dublin Live. 6 August 2024.
  29. Web site: 'Goodnight Irene' – Kellie Harrington retires after stunning performance sees her take second Olympic gold. 6 August 2024 . Irish Independent. 6 August 2024.
  30. Web site: Irish boxer Kellie Harrington retires after retaining Olympic crown. 6 August 2024 . ESPN. 7 August 2024.
  31. Web site: 'No more mountains' as Harrington goes out on top. BBC Sport. 7 August 2024.
  32. News: An Post launches stamps to celebrate Irish women in sport . . Aine . Kenny . 2 March 2022 . 10 April 2022.
  33. News: Olympic heros Ellen Keane And Kellie Harrington will be Grand Marshals for the St Patrick's Day Parade . . Conor . O'Donoghue . 2 March 2022 . 10 April 2022.
  34. News: Freedom of Dublin to be awarded to three 'inspiring' women . . 9 May 2022 . 16 May 2022.
  35. News: Waking hours: A day in the life of boxer Kellie Harrington . Irish Independent . 1 March 2020 . 5 August 2021.
  36. Web site: Kellie Harrington (Boxing) . Dare to Believe . . 15 December 2021 . 15 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211215194132/https://www.daretobelieve.ie/ambassadors-2021/harrington . dead .
  37. Web site: Irish Olympic boxer will return to part-time cleaning job even if she wins gold . 2021-08-05 . uk.news.yahoo.com . 31 July 2021 . en-GB.
  38. Web site: Inside Kellie Harrington's relationship with partner Mandy Loughlin . 4 August 2021.
  39. Web site: Outsports . 2021-07-12 . At least 180 out LGBTQ athletes at Tokyo Olympics, a record by far . 2021-08-03 . Outsports . en.
  40. News: Kellie Harrington shares photo after tying the knot . . 10 April 2022 . 10 April 2022.
  41. Web site: Kellie by Kellie Harrington: gem of a memoir captures the loneliness of the Olympic boxing champ. 25 October 2022. Irish Independent. 26 October 2022.
  42. News: McGoldrick . Sean . Kellie Harrington: 'Why I'm quitting social media' . 3 April 2023 . . 2 April 2023 . en.
  43. News: Bray . Allison . Kellie Harrington to remain as Spar brand ambassador despite bruising interview on immigration . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403203114/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/kellie-harrington-to-remain-as-spar-brand-ambassador-despite-bruising-interview-on-immigration/ar-AA19bxeY . 3 April 2023 . 31 July 2024 . . 28 March 2023.

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