KELLIE HARRINGTON was a sight for Zaur eyes as she and her coach danced around the ring following the Olympic final. And Jacqui Hurley declared that seeing the popular Georgian joining in the celebrations was the "moment we didn't know we needed." Kellie Harrington dances around the ring as she celebrates becoming Ireland's first ever back-to-back Olympic boxing champion #RTESport #Paris2024 📺 Watch https://t.
co/b2OI4OoWVJ 📱Updates https://t.co/c67AsBzqqS pic.twitter.
com/NBAOpDgLMM The 60-year-old has been at the centre of Ireland’s fortunes in boxing since he was recruited by the IABA as a technical coach by Gary Keegan in 2003 and, in 2013, as the association’s Head Coach. With his 61st birthday coming five days after the end of the Olympics, he celebrated early after Kellie Harrington retained her Olympic gold medal . The Dubliner beat Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros in the most composed of fashions on Tuesday night.
However, when the final bell sounded and her hand was raised as the victory, all that composure went out the window as the 34-year-old danced around the ring. Antia was not to be left out, however, as she climbed into the ring to dance with Harrington before hoisting her into the air. On Twitter, RTE's Jacqui Hurley posted: "Zaur & Kellie dancing in the ring is the Olympic moment we didn’t know we needed!!!" She was speaking for countless viewers, with Justin tweeting: "This moment with Kellie and Zaur dancing is my favourite of the Olympics so far.
"Pure unbridled joy after years and years of hard work. It all came out in a dance." Dr Eemer Eivers said: "Things I never thought I’d see, number 1: Zaur Antia dancing "Delighted for him as well as Kellie! After the dodgy judging earlier in the tournament, a great fight from two brilliant boxers.
" Deirdre Verney tweeted: "Kellie and Zaur dancing in the ring after that fight was just sheer joy! So beautiful to see. What a champion" Compared to Tokyo three years ago, Harrington won her second gold medal in front of a boisterous crowd at Roland Garros on Tuesday night. Portland Row's favourite daughter was not able to have any loved ones at the arena in 2021, but had her brothers Joel and Christopher, and wife Mandy in attendance last night.
She shared in a loving embrace with Mandy after the fight , while she enjoyed the reception from the fans by singing a note-perfect rendition of 'Grace'. It was the perfect end to the Olympics for Harrington and, as she confirmed after the fight, the perfect way to say goodbye to boxing. The 34-year-old reinstated her intention to retire , declaring to RTE: "Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt.
Goodnight Irene!". She subsequently explained her decision further , saying: "I'm 98% sure it's the last one. No, it's the last I think - Imagine retiring double Olympic champion.
"There's not many people who know when to stop - I wanna be finished as that [Olympic champion] and be remembered for the last win I had - double Olympic champion...
. yeah. "I've nothing left to prove, I've done it all.
This one was for myself, I've had to dig deep the last - I've had to dig deep. "When you climb a mountain, find a bigger mountain..
.. the biggest, and it's hard to find a bigger mountain then the Olympics to retain the title.
It's extra hard.".
