Paddy Barnes suffered a surprise defeat to Samuel Carmona Heredia of Spain in the last 16 of the light flyweight division at the Olympics.
Barnes, a two-time Olympic medalist, was one of Ireland's main hopes going into the Games. He lost a close fight via split the decision. At the final bell, the 29-year-old looked exhausted.
Speaking to RTÉ, in an incredibly honest post-fight interview, Barnes admitted that his tanks were empty long before the end of the fight.
During the build-up to the Olympics and since the Irish team arrived in Rio, Barnes has been active on social media, regularly having a dig at one of his favourite targets - Rory McIlroy.
The golfer's decision to withdraw with the Olympic golf tournament - initially citing Zika as his reason - was one of the sticks with which Barnes chose to beat McIlroy.
@McIlroyRory you should have came mate, they had this bed set up for you and everything! #RioOlympics pic.twitter.com/vAMAmLgvQh
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) July 30, 2016
Of course, Barnes was just having some fun.
I'd say @McIlroyRory thinks I hate him,I don't haha I'm just bored and having the craic mate!
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) August 6, 2016
And Rory McIlroy knew it too.
.@paddyb_ireland @mickconlan11 good luck lads! If your boxing is as good as your tweeting it should be 2 guaranteed golds!! 😂🏅🏅👏🏼
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) August 7, 2016
Still, that did not prevent some from having a go at McIlroy regarding his use of social media during the Games. Their reductive point would appear to be that had Barnes not been tweeting over the last few weeks, he would be in the next round.
Of course, that's nonsense. Four years ago, Barnes was just as active on Twitter. You might remember him promoting his Twitter account while being interviewed on RTÉ.
Barnes' teammate and fellow Belfast man Michael Conlan could not stand for the abuse being directed the way of one of Ireland's great Olympians.
The fact some of you idiots on here giving Paddy Barnes stick is a fucking disgraceful, what he's done for the country is unbelieveable 1/2
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 8, 2016
2x medalist 3x time Olympian & use keyboard warriors at home doing nothing with your lifes but criticising him without a clue about boxing!
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 8, 2016
Anyway, Paddy Barnes is a Legend of Irish sport and always will be! Done a lot more for Ireland than most ever will! #UpBarnes #Legend
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 8, 2016
Picture credit: Sportsfile
