‘Magnificent’ Kellie Harrington adds to 2024 Olympic tally

Team Ireland has added a fourth gold medal to its tally thanks to boxer Kellie Harrington in what is already Ireland’s most successful ever Olympic games.

On Tuesday in France, the Dublin boxer overcame China’s Wenlu Yang in a split decision, becoming the first Irish woman to defend an Olympic title in any sport.

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Harrington beat Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira to win the gold medal and become Ireland's third ever Olympic boxing champion.

Posting on X, An Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, said: “You’ve done it Kellie Harrington. Gold!!!!! That was tough, strategic, smart!

“Simply magnificent. The entire country is watching your celebrations with joy and is hoarse from shouting you on.”

Harrington’s gold medal puts Ireland in 12th spot on the medal table behind Canada and ahead of New Zealand at the time of writing this article.

Last week, Cork rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy defended their title in the men’s double lightweight sculls event, taking a well-deserved gold.

Daniel Wiffen, who has already bagged Ireland gold and bronze medals in swimming, is in action again tomorrow, Friday, in the men’s 10km swim.

Ireland’s fourth gold came from county Down native Rhys McClenaghan in the men’s pommel horse. He made history by becoming Ireland’s first gymnast to medal at an Olympic games.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Mark English finished second in his heat in the men’s 800m on Wednesday and now goes through to tomorrow’s semi-final.

Rower Finn Lynch made it to yesterday’s medal race in the men’s single dingy event but finished 10th overall.

Ireland’s Sarah Lavin finished second yesterday in the women's 100m hurdles round 1 and will compete in today’s round 2 event.

Ireland’s Kate O’Connor is in action today in the women’s heptathlon 100m hurdles at 9.05am, and then again in the women’s heptathlon high jump at 10.05am.