Focus and adaptability key assets in Harrington’s Olympic quest

KELLIE Harrington’s coach at St Mary’s Boxing Club, Noel Burke believes her focus and ability to counter all styles of opponents will prove key assets in her pursuit of Olympic glory in Tokyo.

While this will mark her first step on to the Olympic stage, the Dubliner who, along with fellow boxer Brendan Irvine, will carry the Irish flag at the opening ceremony in Tokyo on Friday, is no stranger to top international competition having twice medalled on the World stage.

Indeed silver in the light welterweight division of the 2016 World Championships was followed up with gold at lightweight in the 2018 edition.

And she will be coming into Tokyo on the back of a very strong performance at the Olympic qualifiers in Paris last month when she won gold, beating England’s Caroline Dubois in the decider.

She had previously assured herself an Olympic berth after she saw off reigning IBF super featherweight world champion Maiva Hamadouche, but Harrington was focused on gold and so was not stopping there.

“At the qualifiers Kellie fought very different opponents, all different styles and handled each one really well” Burke told The Echo.

“If you can deal with every style that’s out there, you give yourself every chance. You’re in the best place possible.

“A lot of boxers out there would have a certain style that they’d stick to and all well and good if that works for you, but if there’s somebody better at that style, you’re in trouble. Kellie is able to adapt where she needs to.

“She obviously had a lot of ability before she came to us, but she’s built on what she had and she’s given herself a lot more tools to work with.

“She’s able to compete with all different boxers in different ways and so she’s really positive. She’s an absolute pleasure to work with.

“As an athlete, her mindset is on winning, getting in there, performing and getting through to the next round.

“She went there with the mindset to win the thing and she won gold, so she got what she was after.

“Her form was really good through it.

No injuries, and she boxed really well” he said.

Harrington, who joined St Mary’s BC in Tallaght back in 2016, will be heading into the Olympics as the Number One ranked lightweight.

And Burke insists her experince and focus will prevent her from becoming overawed by the occasion.

“She’s been in two World finals in different weight divisions. She got a silver at one in 2016 and gold in 2018 so she knows what it’s about.

“She’s always organised herself really well, and, look, the tournament is the tournament.

“A lot of people crack on ‘Oh it’s the Olympic Games!’ but to Kellie, it’s another bout and she’s looking at what’s in front of her, her next step. That’s the way she operates.

“She never likes to look too far down the road and I think that’s where a lot of her success comes from.

“Her focus is really on the job at hand and she doesn’t look at anything else.

“And remember, this is a very different event with no fans in arenas.

“I think fans can help lift the performances of boxers, but with Kellie, it’s a little bit different.

“Her focus is very good. It could be a full 50,000 capacity stadium or there could be nobody there, but she’ll get in there and do her job when the bell goes.

“Her form has been fantastic and I think every time she’s stepped into the ring this year she’s improved.

“She’s in really good form and she settled into the camp really well, had some very good sparring partners over there as well, so she’s in a good place” he added.