Katie Taylor is Olympic Champion, winning a closely fought battle in the final of the women’s lightweight boxing division against Russia’s Sofya Ochigava.
The crowd sang throughout her fights with sounds of the Fields of Athenry, Molly Malone and Bray Girl in the Ring filling the London Excel Arena and as Katie was announced the Gold Medal winner, Fans and supporters of the Bray native erupted into celebrations and cheers. The celebrations were of equal size if not larger here in Ireland too, as thousands of people from all over Ireland and the rest of the world gathered in Katie’s home town to watch her Olympic final bout.
The medal ceremony happened just before 6pm on Thursday 9th August and the Excel arena was a sight to remember as it was full of green and Irish flags as a beaming Katie Taylor stepped on to the podium to receive her medal.
Ireland’s first Olympic boxing champion in 20 years, Katie made her way out of the arena in the official parade, she draped an Irish Flag over her shoulders and ran a jubilant lap of honour.
Well Done Katie Taylor – Olympic Champion