Tearful Lisa O’Rourke reflects on journey to become European champion
Lisa O'Rourke has made the people of Castlerea and County Roscommon proud with her gold medal at the European Boxing Elite Championships. Picture: Sportsfile
An emotional Lisa O’Rourke reflected on the arduous journey that saw her become European champion in Sofia on Thursday evening.
Since becoming world champion in 2022 in the 70kg division, the Castlerea boxer — younger sister of Aoife who boxes for gold on Friday evening — admitted that a hand injury over the intervening years had resulted in a “long journey” to enable her to get back to the top of the podium.
“It has been a long journey since my injury, getting through it all. To just get over the line today just shows that all my hard work has paid off,” she told .
When the coaches threw (80kgs) it at me, I just took it with two hands. What harm, what is there to lose getting to represent your country and put on that Irish vest in the ring? It’s just a huge honour.
The newly-crowned European champion thanked the people of Roscommon for their support, especially her family and coach Paddy Sharkey, and vowed that her sister Aoife would give it her best in her final on Friday evening.
"The whole community of Roscommon, win or lose, are always behind me and Aoife. We can’t thank them enough. Mam and Dad and the whole crew, and Paddy (Sharkey), who is like a second father to us.
“Aoife is a phenomenal athlete. Whatever way it goes tomorrow, I know she’ll give it 100 per cent.
