CLASSY K
Kellie Harrington reveals reason behind retirement after claiming sporting immortality with Paris 2024 Olympic gold
During an interview after the medal ceremony that it would definitely be her last as she wanted to go out on top.
Kellie Harrington broke down in tears as she made history this evening in Paris before hanging up her gloves.
The Dubliner sealed back-to-back gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with a win over competition favourite Wenlu Yang in their 60kg final.
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The Dubliner is just the fourth athlete - and second boxer - to hit that mark for Ireland, she joins hammer thrower Pat O'Callaghan, boxer Paddy Barnes and rower Paul O’Donovan.
And she is now also the first female athlete to seal back-to-back gold medals for her country at an Olympic Games.
Wenlu Yang beat Kellie in 2016 in the World Championship final but vanished from radar in 2018 until 2023, and Kellie banished those ghosts of 2019 in front of a crowd full of Irish fans in the French capital.
Portland Row native Harrington showed her supreme distance and control as she landed flush jabs throughout the bout.
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Harrington also threw in some stunning combinations as she claimed Olympic glory.
The number one seed couldn't keep up with the Irish fighter throughout as she surged in the final round at Roland-Garros.
34-year-old Harrington knew she'd done enough at the bell in the third and final round as she rushed to her corner to embrace them.
The now two-time Olympic gold medallist dropped to her knees when the decision was read out as she burst into tears.
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Lightweight champion Harrington was picked up by her coach Zaur Antia as tears of joy poured down her face.
Speaking after the fight, Harrington confirmed that she would be retiring.
KELLIE RETIRES
The Portland Row native said: "That's the last hurrah. I'm done. I've always said I want to retire a champion. That's it. Let me just say it once again, Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt, goodnight Irene."
She went on to add in a further interview with RTE after the medal ceremony that it would definitely be her last as she wanted to go out on top.
The double champ said: "I'm 98% sure it's the last one. No, it's the last I think - Imagine retiring double Olympic champion.
"There's not many people who know when to stop - I wanna be finished as that [Olympic champion] and be remembered for the last win I had - double Olympic champion.... yeah.
"I've nothing left to prove, I've done it all. This one was for myself, I've had to dig deep the last - I've had to dig deep.
"When you climb a mountain, find a bigger mountain.... the biggest, and it's hard to find a bigger mountain then the Olympics to retain the title. It's extra hard."
The Irish boxer joins Nicola Adams and Claressa Shields as the only female boxers to defend their Olympic crowns.
Kellie was the first boxing champion crowned at Paris 2024 with an audience of 15,000 cheering her on tonight.