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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
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Michael Scully

Kellie Harrington reflects on 'bloody amazing' wedding day with wife Mandy Loughlin

Kellie Harrington has described her wedding to wife Mandy Loughlin as "bloody amazing".

Boxing star Harrington, the Tokyo gold medallist, tied the knot with her long-time partner Mandy in Dublin last Friday.

The pair met through the sport and have been in a relationship for 13 years.

"The day was bloody amazing," said Harrington. "We had the best day ever. We got great weather and we had close friends and family there.

"Yeah, it couldn’t have went any better. Apart from that, I’m keeping it private!"

Harrington shared a picture of the couple with their pet dogs on Twitter yesterday, and she wrote: 'In a world where ye can be anything, just be yourself. 8-4-2022'.

Asked if the dogs behaved themselves on the wedding day, Kellie smiled: "You know, they were brilliant. Didn’t they look great? They were absolutely great.

"The three of them, it wouldn’t be a special occasion if we didn’t have them with us. They are part of the family."

Kellie Harrington and Mandy Loughlin (Twitter/ Kellie Harrington)

With the honeymoon on hold, Harrington is getting back to work ahead of the world championships in Istanbul next month.

She confirmed this morning that she will quit the Elite Ireland set-up after the next Olympics in Paris in 2024.

"I’m not saying I’m not exhausted or anything, like, but I’ve kept training," she said. "I’ve been eating all around me. That’s the only thing.

"I’ve kept training and I’m enjoying my grub. But I’ve started to tone it down now with the food.

"Then focus, focus, focus on what’s ahead of me really."

Having struggled initially after returning to training so quickly after Tokyo, the 32-year-old was overjoyed to win gold in the Strandja International Tournament in February.

"I suppose I’ve been there before twice and I fell short twice," she said.

"This year, it was nearly like a mini-world championships, like there was really tough competition in it.

"It was tough, like. I was boxing world class girls and I boxed three new opponents.

"I’m always emotional when I win and when I lose.

"You just don’t get to see the tears because the media is not really around when you lose, they are only all over you when you win.

"I'm emotional either way, whether I win or lose."

Harrington can look forward with confidence to the worlds and has her eye on the Paris Olympics.

"I know I'm the woman to beat," she said. "I know that the target is on my back.

"But I do just see myself as a contender. I know that sounds a little crazy but it's what I do see myself, as a contender.

"I also see these world championships, they are massive, but it's preparation for next year when the qualification system (for the Olympics) starts.

"I’m not really sure how that’s happening but this is just preparation.

"What will happen will happen, what will be will be.

"I’m going out there to make weight and hopefully get a few fights under my belt and see how it goes.

"It’s about prep and then hopefully after the world championships I have left enough room to take it up a few levels next year."

Pictured at the launch of SPAR Community Road Trip is SPAR ambassador and Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington. SPAR and Kellie are inviting all community groups nationwide to apply for €10,000 in funding and a chance to spend time with Kellie as she tours Ireland on the SPAR Community Road Trip. Applications will open on Wednesday, 20th April, and will remain open for a period of four weeks until Friday, 20th May, find out more about the SPAR Community Road Trip at www.spar.ie.

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