It was a bit of a close call at times, but Kellie Harrington has secured her place in the Olympic final.
She fully deserved her win over Thai fighter Sudaporn Seesondee this morning, although winning the bout by split decision ensured the viewers were nervous as they awaited the final result.
In the end, the Dubliner did enough to secure at least a silver medal.
Her ambitions won't end there. Harrington will face Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira at 6am on Sunday for a gold medal, with the whole nation set to be behind her.
Speaking to RTÉ after the win over Seesondee, the 31-year old said she was thrilled to give the people back home something to shout about.
'Regardless of the colour of the medal, to have the support of the people back home, to put a smile on the nation's face'@kelly64kg is thinking of those at home after win#tokyo2020 #RTESport #boxing
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/SCtsUOcA5U
📱 Updates – https://t.co/Q8rz8T2O5t pic.twitter.com/Sag2k6joMG— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 5, 2021
Obviously it's a massive achievement, but regardless the colour of the medal, to have the support of the people back home and put a smile on the nation's face.
Whether I would have won here today or not, I would have told them to keep smiling because it's still an incredible journey. I'm just happy to be able to lift all of those people, it's just great.
I know I don't look that happy because of my emotions and my relief has just hit the floor, I can't believe what's happening...
I haven't got a clue what did the damage, because I can't remember to be honest what went on in there! Something did the work to win the fight...
It's going to be a massive fight, it will be what it will be. It will be exciting, but it'll be what it'll be. I'm looking forward to it.
I'll speak to the coaches about it, I'll speak to Noel Burke about it, we will come up with a plan and start to work on that...
As my brother says 'the last mile is never crowded'. That's the way it does feel sometimes, it does feel very lonely. I suppose that's the difference, to be able to hold on in there and keep it going.
A win on Sunday morning would round out a remarkable journey for Harrington and you certainly could not begrudge her an Olympic gold medal.
The entire country will be behind her.
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