RTE viewers were treated to details of Kellie Harrington's unruly past on tonight's episode of The Late Late Show.
The Olympic champion went on air to discuss her upcoming memoir, which is written by Roddy Doyle. The book will delve into Kellie's fulfilling life, including her upbringing on Portland Row.
Kellie revealed on the show that she was a teenage tearaway growing up. Host Ryan Tubridy was somewhat baffled by the use of the term “free finger discount” to describe her shoplifting habits as a young teen.
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Kellie revealed: “Everything I was doing was wrong. I was drinking, I was taking pills and getting into trouble in school. I was doing a bit of free finger discount here and there and I knew I needed to change. I had so many people who believed in me, not as an athlete but as a person, who could see beyond the crying out.”
Luckily, Kellie found her niche in sport after years of struggling in school. She went on to YouthReach and eventually completed a course in Sports Leisure Management.
The amateur boxer also shared that she would be spending the Bank Holiday Weekend working in her job as a cleaner in St Vincent’s Psychiatric Hospital. This revelation led to many people applauding Kellie on Twitter for her down to earth nature.
One person wrote: “The fact that Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington is getting up in the morning to work in St. Vincent's hospital in her 'normal job' for the Bank Holiday Weekend is beyond humble. We are not worthy.”
Another user praised Kellie as an “absolute treasure” and added that Ireland needed to show more recognition towards its female athletes.
The comment read: “We really have to cherish our female athletes more - from changing rooms to financial support, all achievements have been down to the athletes with minimal funding. We need to do so much more.”
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