Kellie Harrington believes Irish women's boxing is reaping the rewards of recent support after the team won an unprecedented seven medals at the European Boxing Championships in Montenegro.
The team was welcomed back at Dublin Airport today by jubilant family and friends as they brought home seven medals, three gold, two silver and two bronze, representing Ireland's most successful international tournament ever.
World and Olympic champion Harrington was one of the gold winners in Budva and, asked afterwards about her claims in a new book that Katie Taylor's father Pete had impeded her progress in boxing, she told RTÉ Sport: "I think that's quite irrelevant to today. Today is about us and not about that.
"Women’s boxing is driving forward. The time and the effort has gone into us over the last few years and it just proves that when you give someone time and effort and you’re patient, this is what happens. Everyone reaps the rewards.
"It [seven medals] really is incredible and it's a testament to the Irish coaches and the club coaches. All the work that goes on behind closed doors that nobody really sees. It’s a statement and it’s great to be able to pull it off out here.
"It's been a fantastic tournament and I have worked hard. We all worked really hard, the 10 boxers. The 10 of us fought exceptionally well and the ones who didn’t get medals could have, they were just pipped.
"We’re on the right track anyway."
Harrington is now turning her attention to defending her lightweight crown in Paris in 2024.
"The pathway to Paris began again after Tokyo straight away," she said. "The target is on my back.
"To be honest, all I wanted out here was to have a look around and see the girls that are going to be there [in the qualifiers] next year.
"There is possibly going to be Russia and Belarus there also, so I'll have to do a little bit more homework as well. But for now I see what’s there, unless we get someone coming out of the woodwork."
Amy Broadhurst also added European light-welterweight gold to the world championship and Commonwealth titles she claimed earlier in 2022.
"It's been an unbelievable year," she said. "You couldn’t write it. I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be standing here a year ago.
"It’s a great stepping stone for me. I’ve proved that I’m one of the best in the world and I’m capable of making the Olympics so that’s the big goal next year.
"It’s the best female team Ireland has ever brought away and it’s so young as well so I’m looking forward to see what the younger ones are going to do. The best team in the world I’d say.
Aoife O’Rourke retained the middleweight title she won in 2019.
"There are 10 great girls here and each one of them deserved a medal," she said. "They all worked so hard. This is all a building process for Paris. Everyone’s goal is to qualify for the Olympics."
Ireland head coach Zaur Antia predicted that the team could be become the best in the world.
"Congratulations to all [the boxers], their clubs and the federation," he said. "We had a great training camp and everyone committed their maximum.
"This year was fantastic. Two gold at the world championships, now seven medals, the number one team.
"We can be number one in the world in the future. We have to continue hard, positive work and we will achieve."
