Aoife secures ticket to Paris 2024!

Roscommon boxer Aoife O’Rourke stamped her ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics with a gold medal performance at the European Games in Krakow last weekend.

O’Rourke celebrated her 26th birthday in style last Sunday, rounding off an impressive tournament with a dominant 5-0 victory over French fighter Davina Myrha Michel in the 75kg final.

The Castlerea woman had already secured Olympic qualification prior to Sunday’s decider thanks to a come from behind win over Polish rival Elzbieta Wocjik on Friday evening last.

Speaking to the media after Sunday’s final, the now double Olympian from Tarmon, Castlerea, said: “Coming out here, the plan was to qualify (for the Olympics), but to end up with the gold medal is just the icing on the cake.

“It was kind of a different style than people would have seen me boxing all week. It’s great to see that I can mix it up, that I can get in with a girl like that and actually box. I’m delighted to get the result”.

Roscommon’s two-time Olympian will now receive a hero’s welcome at a special homecoming this Sunday in Somers Park, Castlerea.

Castlerea boxer Aoife O’Rourke celebrates after winning gold for Team Ireland at the European Games in Krakow last weekend. She will now go on to represent Ireland in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.