IRISH BOXER Katie Taylor took the time out to thank the people who have supported her along the way and the help of God after earning a place at the London Olympics this morning.
The 25-year-old Bray native was ready to take on Michaela Lacatus of Romania in the last eight of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in China when she received news that progression to the semi-final was assured as her opponent had suffered a neck injury.
And with French fighter Estelle Mossely losing her bout to Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva, qualification for her first Olympic Games was guaranteed for the three-time world champion, who is currently fighting in the 60kg lightweight category.
“It’s a dream come true. I just can’t believe it really,” Taylor told Paul McDermott of the Irish Sports Council.
It’s taken years and years of hard work to get here and now I’m going to be an Olympian and join the five other lads who qualified which is an amazing achievement.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their prayers over the last few weeks because I couldn’t have done this without them. God has been so great to me these last few years in my career and I’d be nothing without him.”
Asked if it was the best moment of her career so far, she replied: “We’ll see at the end of the week if I retain my title. It’s important to go to the Olympics as a current world champion.
“We’ll enjoy this victory, well, walkover and the qualification and tomorrow I have to start focusing for the next fight. It’s a huge fight but it won’t be hard to motivate myself and I’m looking forward.”
Next up for Taylor at 8am Irish time on Friday is Chorieva, who has already qualified herself. On the awarding of additional places by the International Olympic Committee’s Tripartite Commission, she added that there is a responsibility to make sure the best female talents are on show in London.
“I think there are a few wildcards still to be given out and it’s so important that they give them to the best boxers out there.
“There are so many great boxers out there who deserve to be in the Olympics and we need to showcase the best female talent in the world. So I hope they make the right decision.”
No, but her brother is a scientist with a PhD in black hole physics (lectured me in college). No lack of open minded thinking in the family. So less of the snide remarks about her religious beliefs folks please!
Do *not* mock what she believes. You might disagree, you might think she’s cloud cookoo, but she has every right to believe if she wants.
Judge her on her actions, not what she believes.
She could be thanking the flying spaghetti monster for all I care, We have another Irish olympian.
Well done Katie, you have been great to us
Well done The Journal. As with the Fabrice Muamba story a few weeks ago you take a reference to God from a lengthy response and stick in your headline so you can instigate some more anti-theist comments.
I agree. There were lots of elements to this story that The Journal could’ve used to create their headline, but clearly they’ve gone with the one to suit their anti-religion agenda.
Good man Kevin – completely agree with you.
I echo the comments above. I’d love to hear justification about why this comment was used. Normally authors on this site are very good at justifying why a particular angle was taken on a story – but they haven’t on this one, despite the large number of comments.
Here we go with the atheist’s again, who cares less if she has a bit of faith, fair play Katie, best of luck in London
Because it matters that we see people recognise that the reason they have success in their life, is because they worked extremely hard to get there, and not because a fictional character gave them a leg up over the rest of her competition.
She’s of course entitled to her beliefs – And nobody is saying that she’s not entitled to them. But think is a public forum, with a public article about a public persona. And as such – people will comment on these things.
Would she thank God if something disastrous occurred in her life? Highly doubtful. We’re not disrespecting her – we are offering the highest compliment someone could give her, and that’s to acknowledge her accomplishments were by her own virtue.
Sean put your Richard Dawkins book down and just enjoy the fact that Ireland has a strong possibility of getting an Olympic medal
Your response is a complete strawman and an ad hominem rolled into one. I’m supportive of Katie’s achievements, and unlike some – I’ve actually been a huge fan of boxing for 20+ years in the good times, and the bad. You are simply incapable of comprehending the fact that unlike you, I actually support Katie in her merits which brought her success. The keywords being “her merits”.
I’m not knocking her achievements – I’m simply highlighting the fact that her success is a direct result of her hard work. I’m not attempting to ridicule or belittle anyone’s beliefs – but rather compliment her on her own hard work.
Sean I think your reading into Katie’s comments a bit too much, it’s obvious to the average Joe that Katie puts in a hell of amount of work to get where she is, no one is suggesting that Katie got where she is today by saying the rosary every morning, lighten up a bit Sean, we only get one life…..or do we???
She’s a Christian, it behooves us to respect her views, especially since they in no way detract from her actual performance. She’s a remarkable young woman. Well done Katie.
I have huge admiration for anyone who can get ‘behooves’ into a sentence.
People are behooving themselves on this thread. Well done Katie.
She could thank the leprechauns at the end of her garden for all i care. If she finds extra mental strength from that so be it. Well done katie and keep believing in whatever gets you through.
She is a boxer not a scientist! Loads of people were indoctrinated as children. It’s hard to get out of this brain washing!
It’s an expression. Take “God” to mean the best of what’s in the human heart and it’s quite acceptable.
“In a dark confused world, the Kingdom of God may yet reign in the hearts of mankind.” Martin Luther King
Best of luck Katie. Hope you get the gold.
It saddens me that this site has run a second article to focus on her religious beliefs, full in the knowledge of the comments it would attract.
This only serves to undermine her qualification.
She’s a wonderful athlete and her words show absolute humility in that she can only see the help of those around her and not her own work. If only more athletes were that humble.
Her religious beliefs should not be subject to public scrutiny.
This site should probably delete this article and incorporate her comments into the article of her win.
It is not very often that I agree with you David but for a change well said.
A God related article isn’t so bad when you know they were trying to work some racists, politicians and bankers in there somewhere too to get the comments flying. And don’t forget the homosexuals!
This thread has turned in to a bit of a knob head fest.
Lost in fixation…kinda got out if control Alright.
Knobhead fest? And I wasn’t invited?
No Katie – You have been good to yourself, because you worked hard and you earned all of your success. Stop giving it away to a fictional character. You deserve better. All the best in the Olympics.
The question is why did God not let Michaela Lacatus’ neck heal? What’s he got against Romanians!
I myself dont believe in god but these are just my beliefs & im not arrogant enough to say my beliefs are right & some elses are wrong. Katie Taylor is a great athlete & thankfully Irish. She draws a lot of strength from god as she believes in his existance. If for some reason this strenghtens her ability I sure wont be the one dictating to her about her own beliefs & maybe shes right maybe there is god after all. I dont believe there is but i have been wrong before i voted ff. FFS if this girl wants to thank god she has that right & i for one would like to thank this courageous talented & very honest young lady for giving me some hope for the future thank god even if he is not my god.
well said
Have to agree with the sky wizard comment. There is nothing worse than celebrities/sports people thanking god every time a microphone is thrust in their face. I’m a huge Katie Taylor fan but let’s get real here, anybody with half a brain knows god is completely man made.
Who cares if she believes in God or not? . Journalists just looking for a topical angle. Fair play to her and a great shot at Irish gold in London.
Well done Katie! You’re a fantastic sportsperson and deserve everybit of the success .. Your beliefs are your beliefs and I respect them.. If it helps you be the best you can be then good for you..
why do non believers of God get so bothered about stuff like this? plus if you don’t believe in a God what’s your point in life? just wondering
This isn’t the place for that debate. We’re ask the religious debaters to keep it to themselves, that includes the faithful asking the atheist to explain yourselves.
Faithless, faithful, both of ye. In the words of Father Jack, “Shut the feck up!”
what colm? seriously haven’t a breeze what you’re trying to tell me there
The “faith debate” is just poo being flung, and encouraging it continue by asking questions of one side or the other or both just drags the thread off-topic.
Katie Taylor is going to the Olympics. That is what matters.
Bollocks to the theists & atheists having a moan at each other.
OK boss.. I’ll be more careful with where I direct my comments in the future..
The propagation of my DNA, Paddy. That’s the meaning of my life.
it’s Katies day let her praise God and give him the glory if she wants! i for one am so happy for her and will continue to pray for her :D she is a fantastic example and role model for Ireland, boxing, and our young people! she is a true Christian and has every right to let people know, there would be less of a lynch mob if she murdered someone and that’s a fact, anyone who doesn’t have something positive to say on such a great day may be happier to comment somewhere else certain:)
Its her beliefs and anyone on here wanting to comment on them, well who cares who or what she believes in. Typical of some, knock someone for something they believe in rather than what she has achieved
Who knocked her for what she achieved? Please, quote one person on this article who has done that.
i didn’t say that. i said they are knocking her for what she believes in.
Conor, drop everything and make your way to the nearest aid agency, where you might offer your services.
The courage of your convictions will carry you as far as Katie’s has.
Talk is cheap.
Boxing is a marvellous sport and Katie is one of our greatest and most dignified sportspeople.
She is somebody that deserves the greatest admiration and respect, unqualified by whether or not she holds fast to beliefs not cherished or respected by a few, or more than a few.
Straying way off the point, we have a great medal hope in this young lady.
Well done Katie you’re an ambassador for your sport and for Ireland.
Ciara, don’t be mean to YFG David. When David stacks the shelves in Superquinn he says to himself, “Someday all this will be mine…” ;)
I’ve said this before. why the hell do people on here have such an issue with others believing in God. It’s not up to us to slate others beliefs. Fair play to Katie and the very best of luck to the girl. She had done fantastic and has made her country very proud . And is a great inspiration to up and coming sports persons in this country. If that girl thinks that god helped her to where she is today then so be it. everyone has their own beliefs and I wouldn’t dream of forcing mine down someone’s neck or go out of my way to disprove someone else’s. Well done girl!
When Katie references god she speaks of the inherent spirituality of the Celtic gods. They are omnipresent in all of us. They support us always.
Wow if there was a debate like this everytime an athlete thanked god after a success.
As an old war veteran once said “there are no atheists in foxholes” !!!
Oh yes there are.
God is fiction, made up for means of controlling the masses…but if someone wants to believe well that’s there business….ignorance is bliss after all
Katie for Gold. I don’t like when believers preach but i don’t like when non believers preach either. Each to their own.
You clearly have been blessed with some insightful knowledge that the rest of us don’t have.
Childish headline by the journal tbh. You’d be lying if you claimed you didn’t think using that particular quote for this good news would stir yawn inducing arguments in the comments section.
I’m an aetheist, just don’t tell my Mammy!
Thank god for that!
What, you’re blaming the message and the medium as well?
Very Irish.
It’s hardly journal’s fault if there are a load of heads out there perched on the hair trigger of a crucifix nailgun, eh?
Ignoring the god issue, has anybody noticed how rounded Katie’s shoulders are?
For many boxers, the anterior muscles of the shoulder tend to get tight. When tight, the anterior muscles of the shoulder contribute to rounding of the shoulders. Conversely, the posterior muscles of the shoulder, tend to get weak and long.
This phenomenon is known as upper cross syndrome. Having this muscular imbalance syndrome can lead to things such as nerve impingements in the shoulder, winged scapula, damage to the glenohumeral capsule, headaches, and pain in the acromioclavicular joint.
I hope someone points this out to her and that she gets the appropriate attention before she does any permanent damage.
Reminds me of Andre Agassi’s book where he refers to Chang’s constant reference’s to God after his victories.Agassi considered it ridiculous that God would be inclined to choose one athlete or person over another..im inclined to agree with him.Fair play to Katie,she should give herself more credit,thats all.
a great Irish champion has qualified to compete on the greatest stage for amateur athletes, I am thrilled that someone with such dedication, skill and courage of conviction is going to represent our country. she may draw her strength from a different well than some of us, but her success is a source of pride to us all.
Morons arguing over a made up deity! The girl has qualified to represent her country at the highest possible level. No one religious belies is more valid than another. When god pays the mortgage, then head out knocking on doors ranting on about it. Until then…it’s a sports story, that’s the topic…and we should be proud. She is after all real!
You all better believe her or she’ll box the head off you!!!!!
wish athletes would stop wasting gods time, he needs to spend some time on the thousand children that die of starvation an hour. curious he can’t multitask.
Ha ha!