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Kellie Harrington

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Kellie Harrington
Harrington (centre) on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics podium
Personal information
Full nameKellie Anne Harrington
NationalityIrish
Born (1989-12-11) 11 December 1989 (age 34)
Dublin, Ireland
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classLightweight (60 kg)
Light welterweight (64 kg)
ClubSt Mary's Boxing Club
(Tallaght, Dublin)
Medal record
Women's amateur boxing
Representing  Ireland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Lightweight
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Lightweight
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 New Delhi Lightweight
Silver medal – second place 2016 Astana Light welterweight
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Kraków-Małopolska Lightweight[1]
Silver medal – second place 2019 Minsk Lightweight
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Belgrade Lightweight
Gold medal – first place 2022 Budva Lightweight
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Sofia Lightweight
European Union Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Cascia Lightweight

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

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Harrington and Emmet Brennan returning from the 2020 Olympics

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

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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

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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

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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

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Banner in support of Harrington, Arbour Hill

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

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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]

References

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