Team Ireland will return from Belgrade, and the 2024 European Elite Championships, with four medals – two gold and two bronze.
Shannon Sweeney, a bronze medalist at the 2022 Women’s European Championships, vied for gold against Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Gena Chukanova. This was a tight bout, particularly in the first round, but Shannon contested strongly in the second and third, to claim the 4-1 win, Gold, and $15,000 in prize money. The final scores were: 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 28:29; 29:28.
To reach the final, Shannon recorded wins over Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan, tournament No. 1 seed, Spain’s Laura Fuertes Fernandez and Russia’s Geliusa Galieva. High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, paid tribute to Shannon’s “hard work and perseverance”, and says her title is ‘so well deserved”.
Double Olympian, Aoife O’Rourke, went in to this competition having won two European golds, (2019;2022) and the title at the 2023 European Games. She took on Russia’s Anastasiia Shamonova, having already recorded victories over Turkey’s Isildar Busra, Hungary’s Veronika Nakota in this tournament. Another split decision from the judges, which went to a bout review – but Aoife’s performance was strong enough for gold. The judges scored the bout 30:27; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 29:28 – following the BR, the final decision was: 5:2. HPD, Tricia Heberle, says “Amazing athlete and the most modest of Irish champions.
Bestowed with their bronze medals today were 54kg Niamh Fay and reigning Olympic champion and Paris Olympian, Kellie Harrington, were both bestowed with their bronze medals today.
401 boxers from 38 federations contested the championships. Prize money is being awarded in all weight categories, from quarter finalists to champions. Those finishing at the QF stage will receive $1,000; bronze medalists will be awarded $5,000 apiece. Winning silver means a $10,000 award, and champions will get $15,000.
The Team will return home on Monday, landing in Dublin Airport, from Frankfurt, at 11:35am.
Team
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Mayo
54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
60kg Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
51kg Rickey Nesbitt, Holy Family BC, Drogheda
57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
Draws are available here
Day One results are available here
Day Two results are available here
Day Three results are available here
Day Four results are available here
Day Five results are available here
Day Six results are available here
Semi Final results are available here
Session 30A results