Mayo Boxer Shannon Sweeney aiming for the European Crown

A huge challenge lies ahead for Westport native Shannon Sweeney who will participate in the European Championships in Serbia's capital Belgrade starting this Saturday. Sweeney has just recently switched to a slightly heavier weight class from 48kg to 50kg. A change for a reason.
Her coach Martin Brennan from St. Anne's Boxing Club Westport explains: “It is an Olympic category so fighting at 50kg will give Shannon the chance to qualify for the Olympic Games.” The change came too late to make it to this year's edition in Paris though. And it should not be underestimated. Putting on two kilograms in boxing doesn't sound like a lot but in the boxing world it makes a big difference: “Shannon might be up against fighters with 53 or 54 kilograms, which makes a big difference” says Brennan.
But he rests confident: “I never had an athlete so dedicated! An amazing kid to coach, she loves the game, very skillful, great to coach. After a competition her way of celebration is buying two donut with cream, that's it, she doesnt drink or that. The day after the fight you would find her back at training.”
Shannon Sweeney is currently on the High Performance Programme and trains three days a week in Dublin. Her coach describes Shannon's boxing style as a counterpuncher: “She sits back and waits for her opponent to strike, and then she moves. Her mind to her hands works very fast together.” And recently she is adding another string to her bow by working on a bit more of an aggressive style.
Coach Martin Brennan says in three years time, Shannon Sweeney will be ready to qualify for the Olympics. A success at the Euros in the coming weeks would set a perfect platform for the big dream on the horizon.