It has never been so good. Kellie Harrington, one of Irish boxing’s great pioneers, brought her Olympic odyssey to a golden conclusion in Paris with a dominant victory over China’s Wenlu Yang to become a two-time lightweight champion.
This was a historic night at Roland Garros Stadium, confirmed by a split decision 4-1 scorecard triumph. Harrington joins Nicola Adams and Claressa Shields as the only female fighters to retain their Olympic titles. The Dubliner takes her place alongside Fintan McCarthy, Paul O’Donovan and Dr Pat O’Callaghan as the only Irish athletes to successfully defend an Olympic title.
The 34-year-old has long maintained this is her farewell to international boxing and if that is the case, she bows out at the top. Before Tuesday, Harrington last faced Yang in the 2016 World Championship final at the heavier light welterweight. Their rematch at 60kg bore no similarities to that prior meeting. This was the fourth instalment of a tournament masterclass.
After the verdict rang out, Harrington sprinted to her corner and jumped into her corner’s arms. For the most magical of moments, she was levitating in the air. The 34-year-old subsequently dropped to her knees and finally danced side-by-side with coach Zaur Antia. Truly, she can do it all.
From the start it was astonishing. Harrington emerged to the soundtrack of ‘Zombie’ and the backing of a raucous Irish crowd. Tricolours covered the upper tiers. Earlier, the atmosphere went from electric to supercharged as Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif won her semi-final in front of remarkable support. The boxer at the centre of an ongoing gender eligibility controversy will compete for a gold medal later this week.
Here was the opening of five nights of boxing on Philippe-Chatrier court and the first final of the 2024 Games. Pro and amateur legends packed the bleachers for a display of controlled, expert pugilism. Luminaries like Carl Frampton and Eric Donovan were on duty. Dublin sporting icons Michael Darragh MacAuley, Kevin McManamon and Emmett Brennan roared her on.
All of the emotion swirling around an Olympics where only one other Irish boxer won a fight and the sport’s future is in grave doubt was channelled towards a single doyen.
Fighting out of the blue corner, Harrington began in the orthodox stance and continued to switch over and back seamlessly. Midway through the round she slipped a wild hook and went to work on the body. Yang strived to apply early pressure only to swallow a huge left before the break. She was 4-1 down heading into the second.
The second demonstrated the threat of the opponent Harrington was taking on. A taller and more powerful competitor dug deep to turn the tide. The Irish woman briefly tumbled to the canvas although there was no threat of it being scored a knockdown.
From there the full array of her skillset came to the fore. Not for the first time in France, that overhand right found joy. Again, Yang only claimed one card in the middle round.
Harrington was in complete control down the stretch.
The red corner urged their boxer to move side-to-side and surge forward, in a desperate bid to disrupt a classy foe. In the end, the 2022 Asian Games champion loaded up a huge right knowing she needed something enormous. It never came close.
For Harrington, it proved the fitting culmination of an immense legacy. No amateur boxer has achieved this level of success with this sort of proficiency. Of greater wonder is the fact that she did it all with a broad smile on her face. Have no doubt, this is a woman in her element. The record speaks for itself.
"It just gives hope. Look at all these young kids, these teenagers, it gives hope to them. It gives hope to the people of Ireland. But this one was for me," she declared post-fight.
"To be happy. To smile, to be happy, enjoy it.It’s the last hurrah. I’m done. I always said I’d retire a champion, that's it.
"Let me say it again: Bob’s your uncle, Fanny’s your auntie, goodnight Irene."
She has fought in eight Olympic bouts and won them all. Her combined scorecard across that spell is an extraordinary 36-4. Boxing is far and away Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, yet gold medals are still rare. They have now won four ever. Remember their names: Michael Carruth, Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington, Kellie Harrington.
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