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Ireland’s Kellie Harrington with Angie Paola Valdes Pana of Colombia. James Crombie/INPHO

Kellie Harrington beats Colombia’s Valdes to guarantee Olympic medal

The Dubliner delivered another masterful performance in Paris.

KELLIE HARRINGTON IS guaranteed a medal at the Paris Olympics after winning her 60kg quarter-final bout against Colombia’s Angie Paola Valdes Pana.

Harrington overcame the World Championship semi-finalist on a unanimous decision to guarantee a bronze medal at the very least, and will now have her sights firmly set on defending her Olympic gold.

In the process, Harrington made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic Games.

This was another commanding performance from the 34-year-old, who had booked her place in the quarter-finals with a masterful display against Italy’s Alessia Mesiano on Monday. 

With the opportunity to secure back-to-back Olympic medals on the line, Harrington controlled the fight from start to finish.

Both fighters landed punches in the early stages of the first round before Harrington connected with two strong right hooks, with all five judges awarding the round 10-9 to Harrington.

Harrington made another good start to the second round against a cautious Valdes, and looked comfortable as she took the second, with Harrington up on three cards and level on two heading into the final round.

The Dubliner came out aggressive in the third with three big strikes as she stormed to victory, taking the fight on a unanimous 5-0 decision – 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.

“I felt relaxed going in there. I listened to what the coaches were telling me and it was working,” Harrington told RTÉ.

I enjoyed it in there. These are the times I need to be enjoying because the boots will be getting hung up soon.

“I’ll actually do a couple more National Championships but internationally, I think I’ll be finished. I don’t know, but at 60kgs definitely.”

Harrington will be back in the ring for the 60kg semi-finals on Saturday night.

Earlier today, Jude Gallagher’s Olympic debut ended in a frustrating defeat to the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam on a close but unanimous decision in their 57kg last-16 bout.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:32 PM

    Congrats Kellie, double Olympic medalist, some going, a Superwoman.

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:28 PM

    What a girl 3 medals 11 days to go rowing gym boxing sailing athletics swimming to go omg this is going to be amazing

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    Mute ashton oriordan
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:28 PM

    She looks so comfortable in the ring is 10-0 up all together in the past 2 fights. 100% sure it will be gold.

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:29 PM

    @ashton oriordan: i believe all boxing finals are going to on at the french rugby home as well

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:34 PM

    @Square: semi and finals yes

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:40 PM

    Already on 3 medals after just five days of Paris 2024… If memory serves me correctly, I think our greatest ever tally came in London 2012 with 6 in total!? That’s some going and we’re only about a quarter of the way through. Fair play to you Kellie!

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:38 PM

    Omg did anyone see ridge ray post on the boxer earlier omg

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jul 31st 2024, 6:32 PM

    @Square: He’s at it again.

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    Mute John Google
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    Jul 31st 2024, 6:49 PM

    @Square: why do ye even reply to that tool ray ridge

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 7:37 PM

    @John Google: i know lol

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 7:37 PM

    @Bert Carolan: yet to see him say one thing nice about irish sport lol

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    Mute Colm Dardis
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:28 PM

    Fantastic

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:42 PM

    A class act,well done Kellie Harrington

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Jul 31st 2024, 6:30 PM

    Great to see Harrington progress. On what’s been a very disappointing showing from our boxers. Traditional one of our strongest suits at the Olympics.

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    Mute munsterman
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    Jul 31st 2024, 6:45 PM

    @Ray Ridge: in fairness all the losses were tight ones v very good opponents. Historically our boxers have been brilliant but we were never Cuba. This yrs team is good but it isn’t stacked like some previous ones where we had some very highly decorated fighters.

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    Mute colm buckley
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    Jul 31st 2024, 6:35 PM

    Gascíoch agus bandia na h-Eireann.

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    Mute sbrennan02@hotmail.com
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    Jul 31st 2024, 8:18 PM

    BBC: ‘Another athlete from the British Isles wins a medal’

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 8:57 PM

    @sbrennan02@hotmail.com: never knew dublin in british isles

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    Mute David
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    Jul 31st 2024, 9:26 PM

    @Square: well there you go shane. Technically Dublin like the other 32 counties are all part of the British isles.

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    Mute Square
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    Jul 31st 2024, 9:54 PM

    @David: long as they leave us in cork alone

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