Silverware for Mayo boxer after winning gold at European Championship

European boxing champion Shannon Sweeney has received a recognition from her club St Anne's BC in Westport. The club's president Peter Mullen said: “We are all very proud of Shannon.”

Sweeney received the silverware from the hands of her club coach Martin Brennan in the West Bar: “We organised the celebration for Shannon and she loved it. All her close family and friends were there, as well as the committee from the boxing club and coaches” said Brennan afterwards.

For Sweeney it was a night to remember: “It is an amazing honour to be recognised with all the people who got me to where I am today,” she said. “Special mention to St Anne's BC. Hopefully plenty of more nights like this to come.” 

Sweeney got the recognition for winning the European senior championship in Belgrade in April. She outpointed Bulgaria's Zlatislava Gena Chukanov in the 50kg Light Flyweight final and the scenes of joy among her family and friends watching back at home in Westport were a joy to behold. Sweeney's success was even more remarkable regarding the fact that she had just switched to a new weight category. Usually that takes a bit of time to adapt but Shannon made it look easy in her run through the competition in Belgrade. Her homecoming was a joyful event, Sweeney had a Garda escort and a hero's welcome with a huge crowd waiting for her at the Octagon in Westport. After winning the gold medal at the European Championship, Shannon Sweeney has her eye on the next Olympics in four year's time in Los Angeles. She is one of Westport's rising stars. Let's hope she makes it there, that's the goal, Brennan said.

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