News
Former Boxing Academy student fights for Team Ireland at the Olympics
Published: 27 July 2021
Aidan Walsh who began his career at Belfast Met’s Boxing Academy is through to the quarter finals this Friday for Team Ireland’s boxing squad at the Olympics. This is a fabulous accolade for Aidan who is fighting along with older sister Michaela in Tokyo and are the first ever brother and sister boxing duo.
It was a very proud moment for the Belfast Met Boxing Academy when past student Aidan Walsh (Monkstown ABC) stepped out at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games earlier this week. Aidan has just won his first fight in the 63-69kg welterweight division against Albert Mengue Ayissi (Cameroon), so will move onto the quarter finals. His sister Michaela competed in the flyweight class this week, as the pair make Irish boxing history.
Aidan was already an accomplished boxer having won multiple titles for his then club Holy Family ABC, when he joined the Boxing Academy in 2015-16 and had just won a Gold Medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games. Aidan completed his Level 2 in Sport and progressed the following year to study the Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing & Personal Training.
Aidan was encouraged and developed by the Boxing Academy team who supported the growth of his skills, confidence, academic achievements. Aidan’s talent, hard work and passion for the Sport enabled him to progress to represent Ireland at the Commonwealth Games and Tokyo Olympics.
John Mulhern, former boxer and Belfast Met’s Boxing Academy Course Co-ordinator, said: “Aidan was a talented student who represented Belfast Met against Sheffield University where he defeated the then current English ABA champion.
"Representing his country at the Olympic games has been Aidan's goal since he first stepped into a ring and laced up a pair of gloves. We are all immensely proud of his achievements and of the hard work, focus and dedication he has shown to attain one the highest honours in sport. I congratulate Aidan on his first win in Tokyo and wish him all the best for the upcoming quarter final."
Sharon Rivers, Head of the School of Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion, confirmed: “We are so very delighted and proud of Aidan's achievements and wish him and the rest of the Irish team the best of luck at the Olympics.”
“This is strong testament to the positive impact of Belfast Met’s Boxing Academy in nurturing our young and aspiring athletes by developing their sporting skills, academic achievement and career opportunities. Our Boxing Academy course team, high performance coaches and course coordinator provide an excellent programme and are highly dedicated and committed to the success of our Level 2 and 3 students.”
You can watch Belfast Met’s Boxing Academy video here and a recent BBC Sport interview with Aidan and Michaela heading to the Games here.
Apply now and check out our Sports and Boxing Academy courses