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Katie Taylor with pupils from New Cross College in Finglas on Friday. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Taylor Made

Katie: I never thought my RTÉ criticism would cause such a story

Taylor and the national broadcaster in documentary talks after settling their differences.

Updated at 7.40am

KATIE TAYLOR IS happy to have RTÉ back in her corner as she continues on the road to Rio.

Ireland’s Olympic champion and the national broadcaster have cleared the air following Taylor’s jab at their lack of coverage of her fights.

Now they are in talks to produce a documentary charting the build-up to her gold medal defence in the summer of 2016.

Taylor clinched a record-equalling fifth straight world championship in South Korea last November but only TG4 carried live coverage for viewers back home.

She later criticised RTÉ and said: ”They always want to jump on the bandwagon when the Olympics come around every four years but that’s not good enough.”

Taylor’s father and coach Pete has since met with Montrose bosses to resolve their differences.

She said: “My dad had a meeting with RTÉ a few weeks ago, sat down with the likes of [Head of Sport] Ryle Nugent, and everything was put out on the table.

“Everything is spot on now between the two of us.

I never knew that I was going to cause such a story. I thought it was common knowledge that RTE didn’t show any boxing last year.

“But, at the same time, they explained everything to us and everything is great now. They are big supporters of myself.”

Initial reports indicated that the documentary would follow Taylor through the 2016 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, one of two Olympic qualifying tournaments for women.

But speaking on Tuesday as an ambassador for the Sky Sports Living for Sport scheme, she said “nothing’s really set in stone.”

“We’re just talking to RTÉ about the prospect of doing it.

[It would] get an insight into the person that I am as well as the training that goes on behind the scenes as well.

A primetime slot would go some way towards raising the profile of women’s sports in Ireland, which already received a massive boost this year when Ireland international Stephanie Roche finished as runner-up in the FIFA Puskas Award.

“I think we’ve definitely come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years but I still think we have a long way to go,” Taylor said.

“The likes of the rugby girls have done a lot for their sport in the last few years.

You definitely need good strong women coming up, and just breaking down those barriers as well.

“I can only do that in my own sport. I’ll just try my best to keep winning titles. Once I keep doing that, people have to sit up and take notice.

“That’s the best way of breaking down barriers, just being consistent every year.”

Sky Sports Living for Sport, part of Sky Academy, announces 12 new Athlete Mentors with Ambassador Katie Taylor. To find out more and to get involved, visit www.skysports.com/livingforsport

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