Westport boxer Nell McLaughlin pictured with her silver medal from the World Youth Boxing Championships (Pic: The Mayo News)
NELL McLaughlin, Westport’s world silver-medal-winning boxer, has been given a hero’s welcome after returning home to Westport.
The Eagle Boxing Club middleweight was greeted by friends, family, local representatives and members of nearby St Anne’s Boxing Club after being given a garda escort to a ceremony at Westport Town Hall Theatre.
The 18-year-old Leaving Cert student boxed her way to a silver medal at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Montenegro, defeating Turkey’s Dilara Sak in the semi-final before facing China’s Zi Yi Bao in the gold medal bout.
Earlier this year, McLaughlin was not selected to go the European championships with the Irish team, which she described as ‘one of the biggest heartbreaks’ in an interview with The Mayo News.
McLaughlin was again unsuccessful in being selected for the Irish team to attend the World Youth Boxing Championships, but was later invited to compete as a neutral along with the rest of the country’s U-18 champions
Her father, Michael McLaughlin, Chairman of Eagle Boxing Club, said his daughter’s silver medal was ‘the result of years of hard work, resilience and passion’ when he addressed the crowd from the balcony of Westport Town Hall Theatre this evening.
Some of the crowd that gathered outside Westport Town Hall to welcome home Nell McLaughlin (Pic: The Mayo News)
Speaking to The Mayo News later, Nell McLaughlin agreed that she had proven a point by winning silver at the world championships.
The eleven-strong Irish neutral team secured three wins and thirteen wins over the course of the World Youth Boxing Championships.
“It was definitely about proving a point,” she said.
Ballyhaunis boxer Carlagh Peake, also came home with a silver medal at her homecoming in her native town this evening (Tuesday).
“Even for Carlagh and the whole team being able to prove a point that everybody was able to go out, regardless of win, lose or draw, they all gave an amazing performance. That’s the main thing for all us, and thankfully multiple wins followed,” added McLaughlin.
Further coverage will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.
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