Reigning lightweight champ, Kellie Harrington, made a triumphant start at the Olympic Games, drawing from her Tokyo victories to secure a win against Italy’s Alessia Mesiano. Harrington displayed finesse and command throughout the match, backed by snapshots of their confrontation. Subsequently, Harrington fought Paola Valdes Pana from Colombia in the quarter-finals at a tricolour festooned arena in North Paris where she kept a clean record of not conceding a match.
Pictured preparing to step into the ring against Angie Paola Valdes Pana, Harrington showed her prowess as she emerged victorious from the quarter-final face-off, delivering significant hits during the bout. Harrington’s win is declared, helping her progress through to the semi-finals.
Harrington made Irish boxing history by becoming the first to enter two Olympic finals, following a 4-1 split decision victory over Beatriz Ferreira from Brazil in the semi-finals. Harrington and Ferreira’s semi-final match proved an intense encounter visually chronicled through photographs. Harrington’s win announcement was met with great joy as she knelt in anticipation of the final.
Harrington solidified her place in Irish sports history with a 4-1 victory against Wenlu Yang from China in the finals, earning her the second esteemed gold medal.
Kellie Harrington of Ireland steps into the ring, as captured by Ryan Byrne of Inpho. James Crombie’s photograph vividly depicts Harrington landing a strike on China’s Wenlu Yang. In a snap taken by Richard Pelham for Getty Images, Harrington is seen falling following a scuffle with Yang. Harrington is also pictured delivering a right-hand punch in a shot from Getty Images. Her elation is palpable in another Getty Images photograph after she’s announced as the victor. Alongside her coach Zaur Antia, Harrington is seen celebrating her gold medal win in an image taken by Ryan Byrne for Inpho. The joy continues as Harrington gamely poses with her gold medal on the winners’ podium in a final photo by Ryan Byrne of Inpho.