Katie Taylor sends message to Kellie Harrington after Olympic gold medal win
Undisputed super-lightweight champion Taylor said the win has sealed Harrington's place as "an icon of Irish sport"
Katie Taylor has congratulated Kellie Harrington on making history after the Dubliner became Ireland's first ever back to back Olympic boxing champion.
Harrington defeated China's Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros in the women’s 60kg final on Tuesday night as she added another gold medal to the one she won in Tokyo three years ago.
Undisputed super-lightweight champion Taylor said the win has sealed Harrington's place as "an icon of Irish sport".
READ MORE:Kellie Harrington becomes double Olympic champion with performance of a lifetime in Paris
READ MORE:Kellie Harrington crowned the Queen of Paris as she makes her exit centre court
She wrote: "Take a bow @kelly_harrington14! What an achievement! You have sealed your place as an icon of Irish sport and going down in history as a legend! Two time Olympic champion - wow!!!
Harrington's second gold medal win comes 12 years after Taylor won her gold in the same weight division in London.
The Bray Bomber has gone on to dominate the professional ranks and became a two-weight undisputed world champion with victory over Chantelle Cameron last November. Taylor will return to action on November 15 when she faces Amanda Serrano on the Mike Tyson v Jake Paul card in Texas.
Harrington previously became involved in a war of words with the 38-year-old's father Pete over comments she made on his coaching in her book. But she insisted there was no bad blood between herself and Katie.
Asked if it made things awkward between the pair, she said: "I don't think it did anyway. That's exactly what it was and end the end of the day she never done anything on me.
"She was my role model when I first started but how can that not leave a bit of a sour taste in your mouth.
"But then you get older and you realise it's just him.
"She's absolutely fantastic, she's a lady and is lovely and what she's done is fantastic. They are two different people."
Meanwhile, Harrington is now a strong contender for the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award for 2024 following her latest goal medal win.
Taylor has scooped the award three times since her Olympic victory 12 years ago and Harrington is now the 2/1 second favourite behind swimmer Daniel Wiffen (11/10) to claim it for a first time this year. Taylor is 25/1.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “It’s been a record-breaking Olympics in Paris and it’s no surprise that Team Ireland athletes are dominating the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year betting. Daniel Wiffen leads a long list of contenders, but Kellie Harrington could have them all on the ropes after a dream Olympic swansong.”
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