‘Is Kellie Harrington retiring?’ was the question on everyone’s lips after the Dublin woman won her second Olympic gold medal on Tuesday, and announced as much post fight in a victory speech for the ages.
“I’m done. I always said I’d retire a champion. That’s it,” she told RTE after the bout, in which she overcame China’s Wenlu Yang.
“Let me say it again. Bob’s your uncle, Fanny’s your auntie, goodnight Irene,” she added.
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This morning, Harrington clarified whether she meant that this would be her last hurrah full stop, or rather just on the international stage, given she has previously expressed that she would like to battle for a few national titles post Olympics.
“That was the plan, that I’m retiring and that I’m not going to do more international fights, that I’m going to come back and do the national championships but I don’t know!” the Portland Row woman told Evanne Ní Chuilinn on RTE this morning.
“I’d love to really, really, break the national record of national elite titles but I don't know. I don't know, probably not like, but we’ll see, who knows! But definitely not international, definitely not, I’ve had enough now like,” she added.
“I’ve been boxing for 20 odd years now! I think I’ve earned the right now to retire, to hang the gloves up and just to enjoy these moments and to try and give a bit of me to the next generation coming up and try and encourage them and give any advice that i can to them, that’s what I’d like to do next,” she continued.
The 34 year old also shed light on what happened after the glorious scenes of celebration, dancing and singing when she received her gold medal, as over 1.7 million Irish people watched on TV.
“After that I was taken off to anti doping to be tested. Then I’d say we got out of the venue just after 2am and we headed straight to McDonalds! It was like a meet and greet there, just with French people like, but it was incredible,” she said.
People observed Harrington do her thing in the ring from all around the globe, and she’s picked up many a fan along the way from Dublin to Paris and everything in between.
“We met some police officers [in Paris] and they were getting photos and then they actually gave me their badges, I was like wow! I have two badges at home now from two police officers over here which is crazy,” she recalled.
“I still can’t believe that I am a role model but…I’m in this position now and I do have to try and carry myself the best way that I can, because there are a lot of people that do look up to me and are looking up to what I’ve done and achieved and how did I get there,” Harrington added, referencing the crowds of people who gathered in Ireland to watch her fight and the role model status that now accompanies her.
“I do think it is important that I carry myself the best way that I can, without losing myself also,” she said.
She also spoke of the unwavering support of her wife Mandy, her family, friends, coaching network and background staff, all of whom helped her get to where she is today.
“You don't just get here on your own, there’s a team behind me,” she said.
Is Kellie Harrington retiring? - What's next for her?
So what’s next for this exceptional fighter? Well, more than anything, she’s looking forward to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.
“I just can’t wait to get home to just sit on the sofa with Mandy and the dogs, drink tea and not talk about boxing or the Olympics, to just enjoy life, eat chocolate and not have to worry about getting up and checking my weight the next morning,” she said.
“It's the very, very simple things in life that you miss the most when you cant have them.”
