‘Heart-broken’ Amy Broadhurst on brink of switch to Great Britain to achieve Olympic boxing dream

The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) confirmed the Irish Independent’s story that the 27-year-old Dundalk fighter has indicated “she intends to seek a change of nationality in a bid to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games”.

Neither the OFI nor the IABA’s high-performance unit will stand in her way if she decides to go ahead with her application even though it opens up the possibility that Broadhurst, who won World, European and Commonwealth titles in 2022 could clash against Ireland’s defending Olympic lightweight champion Kellie Harrington in Paris.

Broadhurst was distraught when informed last week by the high-performance unit that she would not get an opportunity to take part in a box-off for a place on the Irish team to compete in the final Olympic qualification tournament in Bangkok in late May.

Instead, the place was going to Gráinne Walsh, who missed qualifying in the welterweight category at the first qualification tournament in Italy as a result of a woeful judging decision.

In a social media post sent on Thursday night, she said: “I was left broken-hearted and completely devastated when I was informed by the IABA recently that I would not be assessed for selection ahead of the final Olympic qualifier in May and that my Olympic ambitions were effectively over.

“I have won World, European and Commonwealth Gold medals and remain the IABA’s highest rated boxer in the current World ratings but my lifelong dream has been to become an Olympian. I have spilt blood, sweat and tears over 22 years in the boxing ring in pursuit of that childhood goal.

“Since being informed of the IABA’s decision I have been exploring all options available to me to keep that dream alive. I will continue to do so because the Olympics flame continues to burn brightly in me and I am determined to do everything in my power to become an Olympian.

“I have no further comment to add at this time.”

The key to Broadhurst’s shock decision is that Great Britain does not have a lightweight boxer qualified for Paris which opens the way for her to compete at her favourite weight if she is selected by Team GB for the qualification tournament in Bangkok.

Normally it takes three years for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to approve an application from an athlete to declare for another country. However, applications can be sped up once they have been approved by the IOC executive board.

Broadhurst, who is eligible for Team GB through her English-born father Tony, previously contemplated linking up with the British squad in Sheffield but opted to stay with Ireland on the understanding that she would get an opportunity to represent Ireland in the 60kg division.

But Kellie Harrington won the gold medal at 60kg in Tokyo and then decided to stay on to defend her title in Paris.

So, Broadhurst moved up to the super lightweight division where she had phenomenal success in 2022 and was named Boxer of the Tournament at the world championships.

But that is not an Olympic weight division which necessitated her competing as a welterweight, two weight divisions outside her optimal weight.

At the European Games last year, she was beaten by Wales’ Rosie Eccles for a place in Paris.

She was subsequently injured and Walsh, who beat her on a 3-2 split decision in the Irish Elite welterweight final in 2023, was given an opportunity to qualify for Paris at the qualification tournament in Italy earlier this month.

Broadhurst’s decision will send shock waves through Irish boxing.

In response to a question from the Irish Independent, the OFI statement said: “We were contacted by Amy Broadhurst who has indicated that she intends to seek a change of nationality in a bid to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.

“We have discussed this with IABA and Sport Ireland and have expressed our disappointment, while wanting to ensure that she understands the full ramifications of this request and the advice she might be receiving if she decides to go ahead with it.

“We have indicated that if she really thinks that this is best for her as a person and an athlete after these discussions that we will not stand in her way.”