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Gold medal girl Katie Taylor makes Olympic history for Ireland

Sports Illustrated rates her as one of Games’ most popular athletes

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, August 9, 2012, 12:52 PM

Updated Thursday, August 9, 2012, 1:07 PM

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Katie Taylor wins gold for Ireland

Photo by Reuters

Katie Taylor made Olympic history on Thursday afternoon when she defeated her Russian opponent to give Ireland its first gold medal and first gold medal in boxing in 20 years.

Boxer Michael Carruth was the last Irish boxer to bring home the boxing gold in 1992 at the Barcelona games. Ireland's Michelle Smith won gold in swimming in the 1996 Atlanta games, but was found guilty of doping.

The Bray native made history as she won the first lightweight gold medal in Olympic women's boxing. The fight had an extra edge after her opponent Sofya Ochivaga claimed Taylor was unfairly favored by referees.

“Ireland is in a financial crisis because they’ve spent all their money on Taylor’s referees” the Russian said, in the lead up to the final.

Taylor outpointed her opponent by 10-8 after a bruising encounter over four rounds in the women’s lightweight final, watched by thousands of Irish fans at the Olympic boxing stadium.

The Irish Republic came to a halt as millions left work early to watch Ireland’s best medal prospect in decades win out.

A thrilling third round, where Taylor scored a two point victory ensured her win, even though she seemed tired and struggled somewhat in the final round.

Throughout the fight a 10,000 strong Irish crowd chanted "Katie" and sang Ole inside London’s ExCeL arena.
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Read More:
Top ten facts about Irish Olympic hopeful Katie Taylor – VIDEO

Ireland at a standstill as boxing hero Katie Taylor will fight for gold – VIDEO

Katie Taylor Photo Gallery here

The Daily Telegraph thinks Irish Olympic hero Katie Taylor is British
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After the fight, Irish boxing hero Barry McGuigan praised Taylor and said she had defeated a very tough opponent.

Taylor who is from Bray, Co. Wicklow, began boxing after watching her father, Peter, train in the local gym.

She won the World Games title in 2010 and was widely favored to win gold at the Olympics.
After two decades of heartache, Ireland finally has another gold medal winner in an Olympics where Irish boxers have done the country, while other athletes have not succeeded, with the exception of showjumper Cian O’Connor, who won a bronze.

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shuvonn | Aug 16, 2012, 06:22 AM EDT

There are two sports that have all Ireland teams, Rugby and Boxing, soccer does not. But as usual it seems that GB wants to take credit when an Irish person is successful and if they fall from grace all of a sudden they are Irish again. Anyone born in Northern Ireland can be Irish or British by their own choice, same as anyone born in any one of the 32 counties prior to 1949.

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Towngate | Aug 10, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT

Cursplutter: @05.02: I have checked my Standard Issue "Paddy Basher's Manual" and can find nothing overt or encrypted regarding the manner in which the Tricolour is flown,folded or held. My purebred Irish blood was 'boilin' through me veins' at Taylor's hard-won victory,but I was not distracted from my Sworn Duty to ensure there wasn't any attempt to demean the Irish Triumph in any way. I was right to be suspicious when Britains Bernie McSlugan reared his two-faced head - (...at least he spared us a rendition of "Danny Boy"). Wounded...@05.08: good point,actually;but I gave credit that she might have been confused. Ciaradexy: In future > when you see a comment under this heading > please do not attempt to read it, as even basic comprehension is clearly beyond your capabilities. Give yourself a rest,dear, whilst the adults are talking, there's a good chap! Bye,now!

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molliepmac | Aug 10, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT

Woundedknee – there were many Irish who gave so much but were born outside of Ireland. James Connoly - Edinburgh Tom Clarke - Isle of Wight James Larkin- Liverpool - so many more. Has anyone read Joe Horgans article listing all the so called 'Plastic Paddies' - people who are IRISH but whose heritage you deny Ciara. Google it you might learn something. I wonder if you have heard of those I mention Ciara? Of course you don’t care about them – they were not born in Ireland

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WoundedKnee | Aug 10, 2012, 03:55 PM EDT

CountyKilburn, now that you mention "multicultural" I remind you that Patrick Pearse's father was also English.

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WoundedKnee | Aug 10, 2012, 02:54 PM EDT

Ciara: You're back! We were afraid they had stopped letting you use a computer again. But tell us, what do you think of those two non-Irishmen who won medals--the boxers from Belfast? DO you feel ashamed that the Irish are claiming them, given that you have told us that people born north of the border are not Irish?

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WoundedKnee | Aug 10, 2012, 02:52 PM EDT

JackC: Thank you for the update. It's too bad she seems forgotten in Ireland. I hope Taylor gets to meet her some time.

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ciaradexy | Aug 10, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT

County, shes an Irish athlete. Born and bred in Ireland. Its of no interest to anyone here where her dad is from. Town, give it a rest.

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JackC | Aug 10, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT

WoundedKnee: With regards to your question about Deirdre Gogarty, she is currently training boxers in Louisiana. She recently married and wrote an excellent memoir titled "My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl Who Yearns to Box", which was published the day before Katie Taylor won her gold medal.

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Happyhippo | Aug 10, 2012, 05:40 AM EDT

Man i feel good this morning,not a negative thought in my head and all because Queen Katie achieved her ambition and of every Irish person of winning gold in London as the best female boxer on the planet,just savor the moment for a wonderful athlete and human being that made us so proud and just lifted the country when it needed it most.

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Baggie68 | Aug 10, 2012, 03:46 AM EDT

I was surprised to see McGuigan putting his puss in. Firstly, he describes himself as British so why would he want to gatecrash an Irish event? Secondly, he has opposed women's boxing in the Olympics so he should keep his snout out.

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CountyKilburn | Aug 09, 2012, 06:48 PM EDT

I know her father is English. Is her mother English too? For me, she proudly embodies a proud, multicultural, forward thinking modern Ireland with her mixed English heritage.

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aloistmartin | Aug 09, 2012, 06:02 PM EDT

10 Athletes Greater than Usain Bolt #1. Justin Verlander #2. Lebron James #3. Manny Pacquiáo #4. Ryan Braun #5. Maria Sharapova #6. Kobe Bryant #7. Tom Brady #8. I`ll Have Another #9. Katie Taylor #10. Adrian Peterson

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WoundedKnee | Aug 09, 2012, 05:08 PM EDT

Towngate: I think you're being a little hard on this young lady. She has just won an Olympic Gold in a tough fight, you can't blame her for being confused. But as a matter of trivia, if the Irish flag is flown backwards like that it becomes the flag of some African nation, can't remember which. Quite appropriate, given the huge influx of Africans in Ireland today.

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sirpeter | Aug 09, 2012, 05:02 PM EDT

Jasus Creakygate you must have been the only one in Ireland to have noticed that.Lucky she didn't hold it length ways and upside down.That would be even more thoughtless or maybe a hidden code of some sort.You'll have to look into your British code book.The Brits might be able to claim her.If all else fails they can always buy her a British identity.It's amazing what people will do for money.

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Towngate | Aug 09, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

Interisting how she holds the flag ... putting the orange section first! It only becomes the proper Irish Tricolour when she turns her back to us. I hope she was not influenced by her English father/coach or by Barry McGuigan who renounced his birthright and embraced a British identity the thereafter fought under a foreign Flag. Katie might have just made a thoughtless error in the heat of the moment - sets hope that's all it was. Well done, Katie - whichever 'fist you punch with!'

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