Kellie Harrington: Two-time Olympic champion to come out of retirement

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington has confirmed she is to come out of retirement.

The Dubliner won lightweight gold at the delayed 2020 Games in Tokyo and retained her title at the 2024 Paris Games.

Following her win in the final against China’s Yang Wenlu at Stade Roland Garros, Harrington announced her retirement from boxing having made history as the first Irish boxer to win gold medals at two Olympics.

However, there had been reports the 35-year-old was back in training and speaking to the Irish Times, external, said it is her intention to compete in January’s Irish Elite Championships having made the decision to return to the ring.

“I’ve had a year of living somewhat normal and normal is not for me. It’s just not for me, for now.” she said.

“I’ll be 36 in December. So, why not? I’m saying nothing about the [next] Olympics or anything like that. Everybody knows me. I’ll never say anything about winning or going to the Olympics. I always look at one fight at a time, one competition at a time. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

“But I do just think, imagine if I didn’t give it another go. I’m fit, I’m kind of healthy. I have a few niggles at the moment but in general I’m healthy. So why wouldn’t I?”

Harrington will first step through the ropes in Dublin in December for a night of exhibition boxing before then turning her attention to January’s Irish Elite Championships where she will seek a 12th title.

Should that materialise, then it will likely open the door for a shot at next year’s Olympic qualifiers.

“It’s all small steps and small steps before the biggest step of them all,” she added.

“The biggest step is the qualifiers in 2027, in Istanbul in Turkey, probably in July. Not thinking too far ahead or anything, but that’s only a blink of an eye away really. And look, it could be all over by January anyway. I’ll never look past the Nationals because anything can happen.”