‘No Better Woman for the Job- Golden Girl Lisa O’Rourke Sends Message of Support to Sister Aoife
Lisa O’Rourke had barely finished celebrating her own European Championship triumph before her attention turned to the woman she hopes will join her at the top of the podium.
The Roscommon star produced a golden performance in Sofia on Thursday to become European champion at 80kg, but there was little time for her to dwell on her own achievement.
Aoife O’Rourke is next, competing at middleweight tomorrow – and her younger sister is backing her to win gold.
“Hopefully we’ll be celebrating twice as hard tomorrow,” she said.
“I’ll get back to the room and keep her company and get her settled, and I’m sure she’ll do the business tomorrow, please God.
“No better woman for the job, so come on Aoife!”
It was a fitting end to an emotional day for O’Rourke, who admitted just how much the moment meant after the difficult road she has travelled since injury.
The tears were close as she reflected on the work that went into getting back to the European stage and ultimately reclaiming gold.
“I’m delighted with myself. Look, it’s been a great tournament for me. The first one back in the year, and I can’t complain with the way it went for me.
“It’s been a long journey since I had my injury, getting through it all, so to get over the line today it just shows all my hard work has paid off, and yeah, I’m delighted.”
There was another significant chapter to O’Rourke’s comeback in Sofia.
The 80kg division represented a new challenge after coaches and sports staff encouraged her to make the move, but the Irish star saw an opportunity rather than a risk.
“Lookit when the coaches and the sports staff threw it at me, I took with two hands and I said, ‘What harm? What was there to lose?’”
The answer has now been emphatically delivered in the form of another European gold medal.
