Kellie Harrington is an unusual boxing champion. She is dedicated only to amateur boxing and has said for a long time that she has no interest in getting paid to fight.
Just minutes after receiving her second gold medal on the podium at Court Philippe Chatrier on Tuesday night, Harrington announced her retirement from boxing.
Despite the potential earnings from being a two-time Olympic gold medalist in a passionate boxing country like Ireland, Harrington is sticking to her plans and retiring after her successful performance at the Paris Games.
“I’m done and dusted,” Harrington said. “I’m going to go out a champion. That’s the way I want to go out. I don’t want to go out and lose a fight and then retire. I’ll retire happy.”
Harrington is the first Irish woman to win gold medals at two Olympics and is one of only four Irish athletes to retain an Olympic title. After winning gold three years ago in Tokyo, she secured her second gold with an impressive performance in Paris, ending with a 4-1 victory over China’s Yang Wenlu at Roland Garros.
Harrington put enough pressure on Yang to win, even though she lost the third round. Her most notable victory in Paris was in the semifinals, where she outboxed Brazilian IBF lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira, who had been seen as a gold-medal favorite due to her strength and aggressiveness.
Harrington may not be the fastest or the most powerful lightweight boxer, but she might be the best ever in the four Olympics where women’s boxing has been featured.
“It has been four fights with absolutely fantastic opponents,” Harrington said. “Everyone who is here is the best of the best. Everyone deserves respect.”
In her final fight, Harrington was cheered on by thousands of Irish fans at the famous tennis arena. They waved flags, chanted her name, and celebrated as their remarkable boxing hero completed her last match.
