KELLIE Harrington was just about brought to tears after seeing her friends and neighbours erupt outside her family home in Dublin the moment she won Olympic Gold.
The Irish boxer defeated Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira in the final of the women's lightweight competition on Sunday morning, and dozens of Dublin locals took to the streets to watch the bout, which started at 6am.
It was Ireland's second Gold medal during Tokyo 2020 and just the nation's 11th in history.
After watching the jubilant celebrations back home, Kellie couldn't help but be overcome with emotion.
"I didn't even think anyone would be up watching," she told RTÉ afterwards.
“I didn’t even think anyone would be up watching”
Kellie Harrington reacts as @RTEsport’s @jacquihurley shows her the scenes from home as she boxed her way home to Olympic gold 🥇🇮🇪
What a moment… We’re not crying, we just have something in our eye… #TeamIreland #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/EmCzwdPLYC— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 8, 2021
Harrington follows in the footsteps of Katie Taylor who won Gold at London 2012.
Her victory, coupled with Aidan Walsh's bronze medal, means that Ireland finished 7th in the Olympic boxing table, and the highest EU nation on the list.
Kellie's efforts appeared to transcend the Olympics as dozens of hurling fans from Cork and Kilkenny stopped in at Portland Row (where Kellie's family live) to offer their congratulations, before the All-Ireland semi-final later that day.
Ah here, stop. https://t.co/FWPpDPtW4u
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) August 8, 2021
John Crowley from Mooncoin, Co.Kilkenny making sure Kellie Harrington has a good feed of spuds when she makes it home from #Tokyo2020 Photo Credit: The Mooncoin Page pic.twitter.com/DMezQWB5Q1
— Aoife Kearns (@kearns_aoife) August 8, 2021
