It wasn't to be for Tyrone's Jude Gallagher on Wednesday afternoon, as he exited the men's 57kg boxing at the last 16 phase of the Olympics.
22-year-old Gallagher was given a seriously tricky draw in the round of 16, coming up against Carlos Panam of the Philippines, a silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago.
Gallagher put up a good fight in Paris on Wednesday but, ultimately, the gulf in class was evident as Panam was declared the victor by unanimous decision by the judges.
Nonetheless, it was a spirited display from Gallagher, who was in good spirits when speaking to RTÉ ringside after his Olympic exit.
Gallagher's mature and measured response in defeat drew praise from both Bernard Dunne and Kenny Egan in the RTÉ studio, with both men suggesting big things could be ahead for the youngster in LA in four years.
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Dunne and Egan praise Jude Gallagher's measured response to Olympics defeat
Despite the disappointment of losing out to a powerful opponent in Paris' Arena Nord on Wednesday, Jude Gallagher told RTÉ that he was proud to have followed through on his decade-long dream to fight at an Olympics.
'We knew it was going to be a tough fight... I thought it was tighter than the final verdict was'
Jude Gallagher reacts after his defeat to Carlo Palaam of the Phillipines#RTESport #Paris2024 #boxing
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The Tyrone youngster said,
Sharing the ring with operators like that, the best in the world, that's where you want to be. I'm not a loser, I performed the best I could.
I'm just happy and grateful to be here. I'm happy for all the fans and family, the whole team are out, gave them a day out. That's what it's all about. Just happy to be here.
It would be more fulfilled if I came home with a medal! But, ah...look, this is what I've always wanted to do.
We sat there watching London [2012] and my dad said, 'One day would you like to box here?' To be here now 12 years later and box in the Paris Olympics is a dream come true.
The whole experience of this is surreal. I know there's many people around the world who'd give their arm for this. I can only be grateful.
It was a remarkably measured and touching response from Jude Gallagher in the moments immediately after defeat.
With the Irishman still in the early stages of his career, there is every hope he will be stronger when the Los Angeles Olympics come around in 2028. RTÉ's punditry duo of Bernard Dunne and Kenny Egan shared their expectation that Gallagher will be even better in LA.
Beijing 2008 silver medallist Egan said that he was impressed by Gallagher's humility in accepting he had been beaten by a better fighter, and said that the "world is his oyster" in the years to come.
He put his hands up and [said] he was beaten by the better lad on the day. That's fair enough. If you go out there and give 100% and get beaten by a better man or woman, fair enough. You put your hands up and say, 'It wasn't for me today.'
He gave everything in that ring, tried everything, pushed himself to the limit, it just didn't work for him.
He's very grateful that he has become an Olympian and it's a massive milestone in his career. He's still young, he can go again in four years' time and he'll be a different animal all together. The world is his oyster if he makes that decision to hold on for four more years.
Former world champion Bernard Dunne echoed Egan's praise of Gallagher and said that time was on his side in his quest for Olympic glory.
He'll reset when he comes back. He came up against a world class opponent today and got beat - that's OK.
He's 22 years of age, he's a baby. He could be 26 at LA and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Jude.
Regardless of whatever decision he makes, I think he's got a great future ahead of him. Fabulous boxer, disciplined and, as you can see, a great speaker also. He's represented himself and his people really well.
Well said.
It wasn't Jude Gallagher's day in Paris on Wednesday but, if he sticks with amateur boxing, there is every chance we could see him take on the 2028 games in LA with renewed force.
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