Kellie Harrington made history by becoming the first Irish female athlete to win gold at back-to-back Olympic Games after a split decision over China's Wenlu Yang in the women's 60kg final at Paris 2024.
It marks a record fourth gold medal at a single Games for Team Ireland, following on from Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan and rowers Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy claiming gold medal triumphs in the Paris.
While Harrington had already guaranteed a bronze by booking her place in the semi-finals a week ago, the outcome officially confirmed a record-breaking seven medals from a single Games for Ireland.
Having fought every round to date at the Arena Paris Nord, Harrington and her opponent decamped to Roland-Garros, famous for hosting French Open tennis and a grand stage for Harrington to complete her journey as an Olympian.
Harrington, fighting out of the blue corner - unlike the red of her Tokyo triumph - emerged to a raucous atmosphere in the final bout of the night with a huge number of Irish in the venue.
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The Dubliner had fought Yang once back in 2016, losing by majority decision during the 64kg final of that year's World Championships in Kazakhstan.
The first round was closely fought, but Harrington was deemed to have taken it 4-1 by the judges' score cards.
Yang came forward more early in the second round in the knowledge that she would have to chase the fight, with Harrington looking to counter.
Again her approach paid dividends as she was awarded the second round 4-1, leaving her up on three of the judges' cards and level on two.
The hard work from the opening two rounds had got her over the line with Yang claiming the final round 4-1 but it was too little too late from the Chinese fighter with Harrington lapping up the acclaim from the Irish fans in the venue after being announced as Olympic champion for the second Games in succession, dancing in the ring with Team Ireland head coach Zaur Antia.
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