While the debate rages over boxing's future as an Olympic sport beyond 2024, the politics of it all is not something that overly concerns 2020 bronze medallist Aidan Walsh as he sets his sights on making the Paris Games in two years' time.
The Belfast competitor was on the podium in the welterweight division in Tokyo - the colour of the medal could have been different had he not sustained an ankle injury that ruled him out of his semi-final bout.
In this summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the 25-year-old stepped up in weight and duly took home a gold medal in the 71kg class. It was a Games to remember for the Walsh clan in the English midlands, with sister Michaela also scooping gold in the women's 57kg.
The next Summer Olympics are fast approaching, and when asked about the prospect of amateur boxing not featuring at the LA Games in 2028 as a conseqence of a power struggle between the International Boxing Association and the IOC, Aidan Walsh was simply focused on events in the short term
"My goal now is the 2024 Olympics. Who knows whether I'll get to go or not go. These are questions I'm asking myself. What can I do to get to the 2024 Olympics? Anything that happens after that I really can't control," he said, speaking to RTÉ Sport at the Olympic Federation of Ireland's inaugural Make A Difference Athletes' Fund Golf Tournament at The K Club.
Walsh has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on his right arm, this from somebody who does not even like tattoos.
"I remember walking into the boxing club and seeing those rings," he recalled.
"That's why clubs have such an influence on kids. The Olympics has a special place in our family after Michaela and I both qualifying. The Olympic dream is very special and those rings on my arms shows how much the Games mean to me."
Even without the crowds watching on in Tokyo, Walsh still felt the presence of others. "Anywhere Michaela is, there's a crowd," he quipped.
"The stadium in Tokyo was class. Some people like the crowd, some people like the quieter stuff. Anywhere I go Michaela's voice stands out to me."
And while the Olympics is the main lure for the Monkstown BC competitor, he realises there is much else on offer between games.
"Different athletes have different goals. For me it was the Olympics, for others it was World Championships, Commonwealth Games, European Championships, European Games - there is so much in between. Some athletes many not want to go to the Olympics - some will want a world medal and go professional - others want an Irish title.
"For me and Michaela it was the Olympics - and thankfully we're involved in a sport where you can achieve so much.
"Some people will walk into a boxing club and meet a coach who was a world champion - and that becomes their goal. And then there's the kid who walks into a gym and sees an Olympian or someone with an Olympic medal - and says that's what I want to be. Boxing is booming in Ireland at the moment.
"All the athletes are incredible. You just go to the Sports Institute and see how they train, you can't but applaud their conditioning. It's so competitive."
"As a competitor I'm a lot more experienced now but I know that every tournament I go to now is a hard task"
After bringing home a medal from Tokyo, enjoying the moment is something that Walsh is now keen to embrace.
"Reflecting on those moments brings back happy memories and I'm at the point in my career where I want to enjoy those moments. For too many athletes they win medals and then are thinking about the next tournament; they never have time to reflect on how well they've done. I don't want to be like that. I think you're life outside the gym has a huge reflection on how you perform.
"For me it's about enjoying life, as well as enjoying the sport. There then comes a point where you have to get ready for the next event.
And for Walsh that time is near, with the nationals in January representing the first staging post on the road to Paris.
"I used to remember as a kid people telling me that it's harder to qualify for the Olympics than to get a medal in the Olympics. I simply can't rest on my laurels. I have to be really prepared; it's a fresh slate. You just have to get the body and mind right for the competitions to come.
"As a competitor I'm a lot more experienced now but I know that every tournament I go to now is a hard task. Even at the Commonwealth Games, there were European champions there."
