Kelly Harrington: Two-time Olympic champion comes out of retirement

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kelly Harrington has confirmed she is coming out of retirement.

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

After her final victory over China’s Yang Wenlu at Roland Garros, Harrington announced her retirement from boxing after making history as the first Irish boxer to win gold medals at two Olympic Games.

However, there have been reports of the 35-year-old returning to training and speaking to the Irish Times, externalsaid she intends to compete in January’s Irish Elite Championships after making the decision to return to the ring.

“I’ve had a year of living fairly normal, and normal isn’t for me. It’s just not for me right now.” She said.

“I’ll be 36 in December. So why not? I’m not saying anything about it [next] The Olympics or something like that. Everyone knows me. I would 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 do.

“But I’m just thinking, ‘Imagine if I never try it again. I’m fit, I’m fairly healthy. I’ve got a few niggles at the moment but overall I’m healthy. So why wouldn’t I do it?’

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

If this is achieved, it will likely open the door to the opportunity to participate in the Olympic qualifiers next year.

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

“The biggest step is the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, in Istanbul, Turkey, probably in July. I don’t think too much about the future or anything like that, but that’s just a blink of an eye really. And look, it could all be over by January anyway. I’ll never get past the national team because anything can happen.”