KAZAKHSTAN. Minsk. Sofia. Budapest. Baku. Anapa. Kharkiv. You could go on all day detailing the not-so-glamorous destinations across eastern Europe where Michaela Walsh has either boxed or been in camp ahead of competition.
For most of the last decade the west Belfast woman has become accustomed to traversing the continent, holed up in some of its deepest, darkest corners. Other than when you step between the ropes, familiarity can be hard to find.
She couldn’t be more delighted then that the European qualifier for this summer’s Olympic Games will get under way in London next weekend rather than the kind of obscure outpost so readily associated with amateur boxing.
Take a quick look back at recent history for a reminder.
When Brendan Irvine secured his place at the 2016 Rio Games, he did so in the Black Sea resort of Samsun, Turkey – a place more famous for folk dancing than fighting.
Four years earlier, Joe Ward’s dream came to an end at the final qualifier in another Turkish city, Trabzon. He controversially lost his last 16 bout to Bahram Muzaffer.
From Turkey.
Home comforts, though, will be all around Walsh and her Irish team-mates when they make the short hop over to the English capital on Wednesday, with the action getting under way on Saturday.
“You couldn’t get closer to home,” said the 26-year-old, who needs a top six finish to book a featherweight spot in Tokyo.
“It was the same when we went to Glasgow [for the 2014 Commonwealth Games], it wasn’t that far away, same sort of people… I think it’ll be a big bonus having it over in London.
“Even food, time difference, everything’s the same as here. This is elite boxing, and it’s the small percentages that make a difference – things like who can recover better, who makes weight better, who gets their tactics right. All those things add up at this level.
“Everybody trains hard, everyone’s busting their balls every day in the gym, so it’s the small things that can give you an advantage. You don’t always get to box close to home, normally you’re in the middle of nowhere, so it’s handy where it is.”
Making life that little bit easier too is the presence of younger brother Aidan on the 13-strong team.
The pair made history when they became the first brother and sister to box at the same Commonwealth Games, both returning from Australia’s Gold Coast with silver medals around their necks two years ago.
It’s only in the last 12 months that welterweight Aidan has joined her on the Irish elite panel, and Michaela feels they will be a constant source of support to each other as they chase their Olympic dream.
“When our Aidan’s away with me, it’s easier.
“Sometimes when you’re away for ages you can’t wait until the competition’s over to get home, but when I have Aidan with me, I have a bit of home with me. You’re not with each other 24/7 or anything but, even at the training camp in Italy there last week, some people couldn’t wait to get home but I didn’t mind it because I had Aidan with me.
“If you ever need to talk or go for a walk or anything, he’s there, so it makes a big difference having him here. Long may it continue; the main goal for both of us is to qualify so the focus is on London, not Tokyo.”
Preparation for London will ease off in the coming days, with all the boxers getting in the zone ahead of the draw on Friday. Physically, they are in supreme condition while, mentally, their wellbeing has also been well catered for.
James McGivern, a former Olympic hopeful like Walsh before switching to the paid ranks last month, described how Dublin Gaelic footballer Kevin McManamon had helped him return to boxing after a frustrating few months.
The seven-time All-Ireland winner has been brought in as a sport psychology consultant by Irish Athletic Boxing Association high performance director Bernard Dunne – formerly part of Jim Gavin’s Dublin backroom team - and has done group work and individual sessions with all the boxers.
“We all work with Kevin,” added Walsh.
“He’s very good, he’s helped me a lot as well – mental health is such a big thing now, if you need someone to talk to, be it Kevin or somebody else, the support’s there for you.
“Before it was like you dare not speak about stuff like that, but it’s so important and it shows that it’s there for you if you need help or anyone to talk to.
“Your mental health is every bit as important as your physical health, if not more important.”
Challenges will continue to present themselves, however, and the chaos caused by the coronavirus outbreak has thrown out a potentially huge mental stumbling block for athletes worldwide.
The Olympic Games are in limbo, and it has already been suggested they could be postponed, or possibly even cancelled, if the outbreak is not contained by May – two months out from the Games.
Walsh was part of the Irish team who returned early from a recent training camp in Assisi, team management adopting a safe not sorry approach, and she insists she hasn’t allowed herself to consider the threat to Tokyo 2020.
“I’m not even worried about it at all; I’m just preparing full steam ahead.
“If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. But if it does, I’ll be fully prepared and fully ready for it. Things like this are out of my control; I can only control how I prepare.
“What will be, will be.”
