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VIDEO: Praise floods in for victorious Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor has been hailed as the "greatest ever athlete" in Ireland, after she won a fifth con...
Newstalk
Newstalk

07.07 24 Nov 2014


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VIDEO: Praise floods in for vi...

VIDEO: Praise floods in for victorious Katie Taylor

Newstalk
Newstalk

07.07 24 Nov 2014


Share this article


Katie Taylor has been hailed as the "greatest ever athlete" in Ireland, after she won a fifth consecutive world boxing championship this morning.

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Taylor - calling her "without doubt" the greatest sportswoman in Irish history.

The party is just starting in her hometown of Bray, Co Wicklow, where locals say her achievements have changed the face of the town forever.

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Sports fans across Ireland had an early start today as they tuned in from just after 6am this morning to her latest World Championship title fight.

She overcame her Azerbaijani opponent by unanimous decision in Jeju in South Korea - sealing her fifth consecutive year as a world champion.

Taylor herself says she is delighted with the achievement, and appreciates all the support back home.

Social media lit up across Ireland with thousands paying tribute.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny called her "Katie the great" - while fellow Wicklow native comedian Dara O'Briain also wished her congratulations.

Katie after her win in Jeju | Image: ©INPHO/Doug McDermott

President Higgins took a more official approach, releasing a statement saying she has set a standard for all Irish sport to follow for decades to come.

These people in her hometown of Bray say they are delighted with her achievements.

With five World Championships, six European Championships and, of course, gold from the London Olympics the debate has been re-ignited - is she Ireland's greatest ever athlete?

While fans of Brian O'Driscoll, Roy Keane and Henry Shefflin may have their own arguments, Irish boxing high performance chief Billy Walsh says Taylor's time at the top means there should be no argument.

While Taylor herself tweeted this acknowledgement:

Darren O'Neill spoke with Katie Taylor following her world final win:


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