Kellie Harrington, now married to her wife, will box for Ireland at the Paris Summer Olympics

Name: Kellie Harrington
Country: Ireland
Sport: Boxing, lightweight
Previous Olympic experience: Tokyo 2021
Social Media: Instagram

Who is Kellie Harrington

Dublin-born Kellie Harrington is already a part of the history books as the second Irish woman to win gold in boxing since its addition to the Olympics in 2012, and only the third Irish woman to reach the top of an Olympic podium in any sport.

In her Olympic debut last year in Tokyo, she was not only one of the cohort of at least 186 out Olympians, but the flag bearer for Team Ireland.

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She has since married her now wife Mandy Loughlin after 12 years together, having met through boxing together at the same training gym in Bray, Ireland.

“We met there and clicked and the rest is history,” Loughlin said.

“There was an initial [vibe that they wouldn’t get along] the first time we met but after that we were grand.”

More recently, Harrington had been involved in controversy surrounding her social media activity on the topic of immigration in Ireland, for which the out boxer has publicly apologized and affirmed her belief in the interconnected struggles of LGBTQ communities and immigrant communities.

“I believe that Ireland is for everybody. It should be a place to feel safe and to feel welcome. And that’s regardless of your skin colour, your religion, your gender, your sexuality, or anything like that.”

“You should be able to feel safe here. And I’m all for that.”

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Boxer Kellie Harrington an out Irish Olympic hero with gold medal win
Kellie Harrington topped Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira by unanimous decision Sunday, becoming the second Irish woman to win Olympic boxing gold.

Kellie Harrington at the Paris Summer Olympics

As the reigning gold medalist coming out of Tokyo 2020, the veteran lightweight will be defending her spot on the podium. But the 34-year old has hinted that this may be her farewell Olympic appearance.

“The tunnel is there and there’s also light beyond that tunnel,” she said to the Irish Times following her qualification last month.

“I’m looking forward to retiring and having normality in my life, being able to do the things that normal people do.”

She has also won a World Championship gold in 2018, as well as a World Championship silver in 2016.

Harrington will be one to watch.

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