Amy Broadhurst, the current world boxing champion, has expressed her desire to switch her nationality from Ireland to Great Britain in order to compete in the Paris Olympics. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has discussed the matter with the Olympic Association and Sport Ireland, expressing disappointment but ultimately stating that they will not stand in her way if she decides to go ahead with the change.
Broadhurst’s decision comes after she was informed by the High Performance Unit that she would not be assessed for the upcoming second World Qualifier in Bangkok. Instead, they wanted to rate her and Lisa O’Rourke for the European Championships in Serbia, where Grainne Walsh is expected to be selected. This news left Broadhurst feeling frustrated and unsure of what was happening. She informed her psychologist that she would not be returning to the high performance center in the near future and was considering not returning at all.
Broadhurst’s decision is a significant one as it means she will not be able to defend her world title at the upcoming World Championships. However, she remains determined to compete at the highest level and believes that switching allegiance will give her a better chance of success. If approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Broadhurst plans on competing in the lightweight category (60kg), where Ireland’s Kelly Harrington is currently reigning as an Olympic champion.