Alone, like an island, Kellie Harrington remains in the centre of the ring; her obligations now completed. Age and a life committed to pugilism have left their mark on her worn and flushed face. Here stands Kellie Harrington, a double gold medalist Olympian. There’s naught left for her to conquer.
The music resonates through the space as she succumbs to her knees, burying her face into the soft fabric of the canvas, taking this instant in solitude. Both the brilliance and harshness of Harrington’s life course explode within her for a brief moment, while the audience drinks in this spectacle. Rising, she begins to dance.
She dances solo, mirroring the youthful, restless spirit from her inception into the world of boxing. Completely engulfed in the rhythm of the music, she becomes oblivious to the revolving world around her. Suddenly, her mentor, Zaur Antia, joins her in the ring, encircling her in an embrace as he jigs to his own beat. Once again, she finds herself on her knees, alone.
Kellie Harrington exudes solitude; she defines it. Ireland dispatched a team of 10 to Paris, and when the final count is taken, the records will reveal total winnings of five out of 14 matches. Harrington claimed victory in four of these. The only pugilist to make it into the second week; the sole one to emerge victorious more than a single time. This triumphant Olympics of Harrington, in contrast to the general team performance, will be remembered in Irish boxing reviews over the upcoming weeks and months. A journey embarked on independently, in her unique style.
There she is, poised alone. Emerging from the underground tunnel with a confident swagger, her broad shoulders rocking beneath her blue vest, The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ sets the rhythm for the animated Irish onlookers. Approaching the Chinese contender, she stands ready to deliver the final blow. Completely self-reliant.
‘Kellie! Kellie! Kellie!’ echoes across the spectators within the first 20 seconds of the opening bell. She displays smooth movements, floating in and out. Successfully establishing her range, she manipulates Yang, making her miss the target. The first round concludes with Harrington leading 4-1, seemingly unstoppable.
A solitary figure she remains. For an entire century, Irish pugilists have been battling it out in the Olympics. Since the inaugural Irish team was dispatched to the 1924 Games held in this metropolis, 116 distinct fighters have risen through the ranks to don the Irish colours in the boxing arena. Out of this figure, a mere 19 have had the distinction of participating in more than one Olympic event. Among these competitors, only eight have managed to score a win at multiple Games. And yet, among such incredible odds, only Harrington has achieved the remarkable feat of securing triumph at two distinct Olympic meetings, both capturing gold.
This wasn’t quite the same as the finale in Tokyo. Harrington found herself in arrears after the initial bout in the Tokyo affair three years prior, yet managed to turn the tide in her favour. On this occasion, she seized the lead early and clung onto it tenaciously. Yang quickly understood that she would need to dig deep and deliver an exceptional performance in the second bout to maintain her presence in the contest. Harrington, however, was resolutely unwilling to offer her an opening.
Harrington remains a solitary figure. During the week, she reflected on her isolated routine in Paris. Eating her meals alone, shutting out distractions, being swept into the whirlwind spectacle of the world’s grandest sporting event as though she were an observer from another time and place.
The past two weeks have proven to be Harrington’s time, her competition, her battle. Devoting herself to a single-minded pursuit, she tunneled her way through to this evening, this venue. Here, she stands alone at the pinnacle of her journey, distinguished as the most accomplished Olympic boxer hailing from Ireland, in the backdrop of the Court Philippe Chatrier’s green glint, and Irish flags, jerseys and familiar calls ushering her.
By the conclusion of the second bout, it was crystal clear. She held a 20-18 lead on three judges’ scorecards, and barring a knock-out, Yang had no possibility of altering the trajectory. Harrington merely had to keep on her feet and she would claim her victorious solitude, decisively and eternally.
Despite losing in the final bout, the defeat was irrelevant. A split decision swung in her favour, with onlookers only registering the referee raising the sturdy hand of the woman in the blue corner. It was a journey filled with obstacles and turbulence, but Harrington eventually triumphed.
Observe her now, standing solo in the centre of the ring, her arms raised in triumph, her gold medals invincible and unassailable. Kellie Harrington. Ireland’s greatest Olympic boxer of all times. She is indeed a valiant heroine.