Kellie Harrington’s gold Olympic medal-winning fight has become the most-watched sporting event on RTÉ.
The athlete boxed for a historic gold on Tuesday after she won her 60kg semi-final in Paris on Saturday.
A peak audience of 1.3 million people tuned into RTÉ to watch the boxer become the first Irish female athlete to win consecutive gold medals.
The fight became the most-watched sporting event on the broadcaster in over a decade.
The Portland Row native took on China’s Yang Wenlu, who won their first meeting eight years ago.
She won to China’s Wenlu Yang, the 33-year-old who had previously beaten her in the final of the welterweight division at the 2016 World Championships in Astana.
However, Kellie announced her retirement on Tuesday after she retained her Olympic lightweight title.
Having secured a historic win, the 34-year-old confirmed it was time to hang up her gloves during an interview with RTÉ.
Speaking to RTÉ, Kellie said, “I just wanted to be happy. I just wanted to smile, be happy, and enjoy the last hurrah. I am done.”
“I always said I wanted to retire a champion and that’s it. Let me say it again: Bob’s your uncle, Fanny’s your auntie, goodnight Irene.”
“It just gives hope. Look at all these young kids, these teenagers, it gives hope to them. It gives hope to the people of Ireland. But this one was for me,” she added in the post-fight interview.
Back home in Dublin, hundreds of people watched Kellie’s fight in Diamond Park in Dublin’s north inner city with everyone cheering Kellie on.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was among the first to congratulate Kellie after she secured gold, saying, “You’ve done it, Kellie Harrington. Gold!!!!! That was tough, strategic, smart! Simply magnificent.”
Kellie has now joined an exclusive club alongside Fintan McCarthy, Paul O’Donovan and Dr Pat O’Callaghan as the only Irish athletes to win gold medals at two different games.
In the 100-year history of Ireland’s participation in the Olympics, only Michael Carruth, Katie Taylor and Harrington (twice) have won gold medals in the Olympic boxing tournament.
Kellie’s medal is Ireland’s fourth gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.