Two-time Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington has confirmed she is to return out of retirement.
The Dubliner gained light-weight gold on the delayed 2020 Video games in Tokyo and retained her title on the 2024 Paris Video games.
Following her win within the closing in opposition to China’s Yang Wenlu at Stade Roland Garros, Harrington introduced her retirement from boxing having made historical past as the primary Irish boxer to win gold medals at two Olympics.
Nonetheless, there had been experiences the 35-year-old was again in coaching and talking to the Irish Instances, exterior, stated it’s her intention to compete in January’s Irish Elite Championships having made the choice to return to the ring.
“I’ve had a yr of residing considerably regular and regular will not be for me. It is simply not for me, for now.” she stated.
“I will be 36 in December. So, why not? I am saying nothing concerning the [next] Olympics or something like that. All people is aware of me. I am going to by no means say something about profitable or going to the Olympics. I at all times have a look at one combat at a time, one competitors at a time. And that is precisely what I am doing.
“However I just do assume, think about if I did not give it one other go. I am match, I am type of wholesome. I’ve just a few niggles in the mean time however typically I am wholesome. So why would not I?”
Harrington will first step by means of the ropes in Dublin in December for an evening of exhibition boxing earlier than then turning her consideration to January’s Irish Elite Championships the place she’s going to search a twelfth title.
Ought to that materialise, then it should probably open the door for a shot at subsequent yr’s Olympic qualifiers.
“It is all small steps and small steps earlier than the most important step of all of them,” she added.
“The largest step is the qualifiers in 2027, in Istanbul in Turkey, in all probability in July. Not considering too far forward or something, however that is solely a blink of an eye fixed away actually. And look, it may very well be throughout by January anyway. I am going to by no means look previous the Nationals as a result of something can occur.”
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