EU silver medalist Kelly Harrington – “I wanted to do well for myself”
Her first major tournament in an Olympic weight class, Kelly Harrington was delighted to prove she belongs and bring home a medal.
The Dubliner won lightweight silver at the EU Championships in Cascia, Italy, last week, and the medal will now hang proudly alongside her light welterweight silver from last year’s World Championships.
Harrington boxed clever to secure bronze with wins over Poland’s Kinga Szlachcic and Dane Ditteajaaja Frostholm. She would then turn in a sensational performance in the semi finals to defeat Olympian home favourite Irma Testa and upgrade to silver, before being beaten in the final by Katie Taylor conqueror Mira Potkonen.
The inner-city switch-hitter was happy with her showing, and told Irish-Boxing.com that “I was glad to medal at 60kg as it’s such a competitive weight class, with it being an Olympic weight.”
“I boxed this year In a multi nations tournament in Romania at 60kg over three days so I had tested the waters beforehand. I felt comfortable over the week boxing and making weight wasn’t a problem thankfully. ”
“It was a fantastic tournament from start to finish, it was very well ran, from the accommodation to the food right down to the venue was great – and such a beautiful place. ”
Harrington really has been put front and centre recently as of the main figureheads of the next generation of Irish amateur stars. The added attention however is no problem for the down-to-earth Dub who noted how “since the world’s I got a bit of recognition but I’m a very humble person and very well grounded, I like to think, so I didn’t feel and pressure or anything I just felt myself.”.
“I wanted to do well for myself.”
There was a professional feel to the championships for Harrington, with a camp in France beforehand and new High Performance Director Bernard Dunne in attendance.
Harrington outlined how “was great to have two top coaches out there with us Dima [Dimiturk] and Jimmy [Payne] they couldn’t have done any more for us they were super from start to finish and the physio was brilliant she kept us all in tact over the eight days out there.”
“Bernard was always very encouraging to us out there and helpful, he was always shouting from the stand his poor lungs got a roasting!”
“The team morale was very high and. I am just delighted that I got to be part of such a great team.”
The next big medal opportunity wont be until next year, with World and European Championships. Not looking too far ahead, Harrington plans to take things as they come.
The 27 year old outlined how “I don’t know what the plan is now for the rest of the year, I’m just gonna sit back and chill for awhile and follow the Men’s World Championships as our five lads head off to Germany to make their mark.”
