Kellie Harrington of Ireland has made a significant mark in boxing, and she has now added another chapter to her remarkable career. After clinching her second Olympic gold medal on Tuesday night at Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris at the 2024 Olympics, Harrington announced her retirement from the sport. Despite the potential earnings from being a two-time Olympic champion in a boxing-enthusiastic nation like Ireland, Harrington has reaffirmed her decision to step away from the sport.
“I’m done and dusted,” Harrington declared. “I’m going to go out a champion. That’s the way I want to go out. I don’t want to retire after losing a fight. I’ll retire happy.”
Harrington is the first Irish woman to win gold medals at two Olympics and one of only four Irish athletes to retain an Olympic title. She secured her second gold with a decisive 4-1 victory over China’s Yang Wenlu at Roland Garros, capping off an impressive campaign in Paris. Her standout performance was in the semifinals, where she outboxed Brazilian IBF lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira, a favorite for gold due to her physicality and aggression.
Though not the fastest or strongest in her weight class, Harrington has proven to be one of the best ever in the lightweight division across four Olympics. Her final match attracted a huge crowd of Irish fans who cheered her on, lifting her spirits despite her exhaustion.
Harrington, who previously competed in the mostly empty Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere in Paris. Despite joking about reconsidering if the financial offer were substantial, she remains firm on her retirement decision, closing a distinguished chapter in her boxing career.
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