Katie Taylor’s greatest legacy? Making sure the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles
Aaron Dunne Reports from Dublin
“My legacy…” observed Katie Taylor, speaking from the stage of Dublin’s Helix Theatre in DCU on Tuesday afternoon – tricolours draped from a sold out press conference open to the public – “…will be in the little girls who pick up this great sport of ours because of me.”
Dead right. Women’s sport in Ireland has been let down by consecutive governments for as long as it’s cared to be remembered. Some of us care to remember though. Lest it ever be forgotten. Case in point.
Two Olympic gold medals for Kellie Harrington hasn’t resulted in a women’s changing room in her home club in the north inner city. Blusto and bravado from the mouths of opportunists; promising the moon and the stars with delivery fortholding to the whims of speculators.
Words are wind to most politicians; but when the greatest athlete this little island of ours has ever produced points to the obvious; we need to sit up and listen. To a fine balance of speculators, spectators, accommodators and accumulators.
There may be more wee cailini ag troid innui than ever before, a number that will escalate after Saturday – but Katie Taylor had to pretend to be a boy just get her start in a gym. How far we’ve come.
This is no overnight success – though one that has led to the biggest night in the history of Irish sport. And the greatest legacy we’ve perhaps ever seen.
The fact that it’s a woman feels less unworthy of mentioning – greatness is earned. And for all the great men our country has produced, Katie is the greatest of us all.
As the curtain falls, one can’t help but wonder where the next Katie Taylor will come from.
“I’m amazed this has actually happened… it’s beyond my wildest dreams. In front of 80,000 people, it’s gonna be an amazing night for Irish sport.
“For women’s sport in general I don’t think there’s a country in the world that would give it such support. I’m so blown away by the support… from Manchester to Leeds, Brooklyn to Boston, even New York, it’s been amazing. I’d like to thank you all so much. I’m so grateful.
“To have a chance to meet icons of the sport… to fight at my dream venue in Croke Park… it’s beyond my wildest dreams. It’s hard to prepare yourself for a moment like this. I’m not sure how I’m gonna feel.
“It’s gonna be something… I’ll have enough time after to reflect on this amazing career after my hand is raised… I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think about it all… I can imagine the thousands of stories, little girls who are at a boxing match for the first time on Saturday…
“Girls who might fall in love with this sport, inspired by my achievements. That’s what it’s all about.
“I’m so blown away by this amazing support, so proud to be from this incredible country. Looking back on my own start as a boxer… when I had to disguise myself as a boy to get fights…I was walking to some boxing gyms getting sniggered at and laughed at because ‘who’s this girl trying to be a boxer’… I had to earn people’s respect along the way.
She managed it.
“I’m so glad young girls now won’t have to go through the same struggles and adversity I did and that to me is the greatest part about this legacy.”
Legacy indeed
