Amy Broadhurst, a renowned Irish boxer, has opted to represent Britain in her quest for the Paris Olympics, despite her prior success as a world champion for Ireland.
The decision came after Broadhurst was not chosen by Ireland for the final Olympic qualifier in Bangkok. Consequently, she will compete for Britain at the upcoming event in Thailand.
Born in Ireland, Broadhurst also holds British citizenship due to her English father.
Expressing her sentiments, Broadhurst stated, “It has always been my dream to compete at the Olympic Games, and I am very pleased to have been selected by GB Boxing to participate in the final qualifying event in Thailand in May.”
Hailing from Dundalk, near the Northern Irish border, Broadhurst had expressed disappointment last month after being informed by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association that she would not be considered for selection for Bangkok. She affirmed her intention to explore alternative options.
Broadhurst, previously overlooked by Ireland in the welterweight category, has now been chosen by Britain as a lightweight, coinciding with Ireland’s Kellie Harrington’s category, who clinched gold at the Tokyo Olympics and has already secured qualification for Paris.
Boxing stands as Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, boasting 18 of the country’s 35 medals.
Broadhurst emphasized that the decision to switch allegiances was not made lightly, stating, “I felt I owed it to myself and all the people that have supported me throughout my career to do everything possible to continue to pursue my dream of competing on the biggest stage in sport.”
Her accolades include winning the 2022 world and European championships for Ireland at light-welterweight, as well as securing gold at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland in the lightweight category the same year.
Rob McCracken, British Boxing’s performance director, explained that the selection criteria prioritize individuals demonstrating potential to qualify for and potentially win Olympic medals.
