Olympics boxing: Tears of pride, not sadness, as Aidan Walsh exits Paris Games

When it came to his opening bout in Paris, Walsh was not only up against Traore but the raucous home support, who cheered every punch.

Walsh edged a cagey first round – in which both fighters were reminded to engage – but Traore fed off the energy in the North Paris Arena.

The French fighter responded in the second and ultimately claimed the decider as the stands reverberated with noise and clamour.

After the result was declared, Walsh graciously lifted his opponent’s arm into the air and he was smiling in the ring as he shook the hands of the coaches and the referee.

And then came the emotion.

“After the qualifiers I didn’t really have a chance to soak it in because there was so much pressure and a lot of expectation,” he said.

“Now the emotions are coming out because to qualify was so, so hard. Thailand was one of the hardest experiences of my life.

“Having six fights in a week, you aren’t able to show your emotions.”

Walsh admits he doesn’t know what is next for him in his boxing journey. It’s still too soon, still too raw.

“I’m studying for my Masters degree at the minute and I’m doing a few other things. I’m enjoying competing, but I’ll weigh up my options.

“I’m performing well, it’s just a case of if I have the love of it when I was 12 or 13. At the minute I’m enjoying it, but I have to ask myself a lot of questions.

“I’m only 27, so I might take another two years and come back again. Who knows?”