Katie Taylor vows to bounce back stronger
By Terence Dooley
Ireland’s Katie Taylor is still reeling from her quarter-final defeat to Finland’s Mira Potkonen yet the 30-year-old has vowed to put her Rio Games heartache behind her and bounce back stronger.
The split decision loss means that Taylor exits the tournament earlier than expected. Despite cries of foul play from some within her team, the Olympian believes that it is all part of a divine plan for her.
“I'm not finished yet, that's for sure,” she said when speaking to the Irish version of the Daily Mirror.
“It's just very hard to take. The losses during the year have been very, very tough. I came into this competition very well prepared and really believing I could come home with a gold medal.
“The plans that I have in my heart are sometimes different from God's plans and I just have to trust Him at this time. I'm just so humbled by the prayers said for me during the week."
She added: “I've been getting so many texts from people praying for me during the week. I'm just so humbled by that and the support over the last year has been absolutely incredible. I don't think I would have been in this position, going into my second Olympic Games, if it wasn't for that my support. If it wasn't for my incredible family, my church family. It's such a privilege to be here. I'm just sorry I couldn't come home with a second Olympic gold medal."
However, her coach Eddie Bolger was less infused with the spirit of forgiveness when analysing the loss, he said: “That fight wasn't even close. You can add it up and it wasn't close. It was a shocking decision.”
Michael Conlan is Ireland’s last man standing; he fights later today and will hope to keep the Irish flag flying after what has been a disappointing tournament for the country’s boxers. Eight went over but only one remains and that number could be whittled down to zero if he doesn’t win today.
As for Taylor, losses to Yana Alekseevna and Estelle Mossely, in the European Olympic qualifiers and World Championships respectively, had knocked the stuffing out of one of women’s boxing biggest stars, but she has pledged to come back stronger and will continue to box beyond this year’s Games.
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