BEFORE leaving for Japan back in June, Brendan Irvine already had one eye on life beyond boxing – and now the two-time Olympian is helping educate future generations in the sport after becoming a community coach with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA).
A personal training course was already in the works but has been parked for the time being after Irvine landed a full-time role in the IABA’s Ulster branch, which sees him working alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Paddy Gallagher.
Given his attitude and application to the sport from an early age, there are few who set a better example than the Irvine. And his experience of working with younger boxers at club St Paul’s made him an obvious candidate for the post.
“I had actually applied for the job before going over to Japan, and when I was there I got an email saying I’d been shortlisted for an interview,” he said.
“Obviously that had to wait until a few weeks after I came back home, thankfully I got the job, and I have to say I’m really loving it so far. It’s different, it’s challenging, but really enjoyable.
“I did my coaching course after I came back from Rio [in 2016], and I always enjoyed working with the younger ones at the club, teaching them the fundamentals.
“My head was pretty all over the place when I got home from Tokyo, I didn’t know what I was doing… this job has helped me a lot because it has put structure into my day. I know what I’m doing.
“When I don’t have a structure to my day I feel a bit lost, so it’s been good to have that.”
Having turned 25 in May, and bought his first house with fiancée Bronagh through the summer, ‘Wee Rooster’ is happy to have the security of a full-time post, especially as he is part of a Sport Ireland funding system where everything can change in the blink of an eye.
However, this is not the end of his career in the ring – far from it.
Some details still have to be ironed out with the IABA and the High Performance Unit in Dublin but, with the Ulster Elites coming up in December and next summer’s Commonwealth Games on the horizon, there is plenty to look forward to.
“Especially with the uncertainty of the last few years with Covid, everything was up in the air. I had no real interest in the professional option, and obviously I’m still hoping to box alongside doing the job, so that was one of the reasons I was able to take it,” said Irvine, who had hoped to enter the recent Irish Elite Championships, only for a back injury to keep him out.
“I can tie in with Jordanstown or Dublin and do my training, or go to St Paul’s. I’ve been trying to plant a few seeds for the future, I just got my own house, there’s bills to pay every month. You have to be realistic.
“I’m just trying to find my feet at the minute, but Dublin seem to be happy to work with me. I was injured for two years and I trained at home then came back and qualified [for Tokyo 2020] in my first tournament.
“When I told [High Performance director] Bernard [Dunne] that I’d got the job he was delighted, so he’s happy for me to stay at home and keep working away, as long as I’m kept in the loop.”
And, despite the disappointments of Rio and Tokyo, the ambition to land an Olympic medal still burns as brightly as ever, with Paris 2023 firmly on the radar.
“The only thing I want is an Olympic medal,” he said.
“Paris is only three years away so I’d be foolish to say ‘right, I’ve had enough now’ when it’s a shorter cycle. I’ve sacrificed my whole life for the sport so I’d rather try and jump that last hurdle and then maybe look at going pro, depending on how it goes.
“I’d still only be 28 then so there’s time to play about with. But I’m happy with where I am at the minute.”
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CARRYING FLAG PROUDEST MY MOMENT ADMITS IRVINE
TWO-TIME Olympian Brendan Irvine has admitted that carrying the Irish flag at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony was the proudest moment of his life.
Alongside golden girl Kellie Harrington, Ireland team captain Irvine was selected as flagbearer for the opening ceremony at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium.
And while his tournament ended in disappointment following a last 32 exit to eventual silver medallist Carlo Paalam, the west Belfast flyweight admits the memories of Tokyo 2020 are more magical than his debut Olympic appearance in Rio five years earlier.
“There was a weird atmosphere in Rio… it felt nearly like there was a cloud over us,” said the 25-year-old.
“I was able to enjoy it a lot more this time. It was good being there with Kurt [Walker] – we won our first elite titles on the same night, and there we were together again. Years down the line you’ll probably appreciate wee things like that.
“And then the opening ceremony was the proudest I’ve ever been. Walking out… it was just amazing. All my family back home, they were all buzzing, so proud. My street had Tricolours everywhere – it was like St Patrick’s Day.
“When you’re away representing your country, it’s special. But when you’re carrying the flag on the world stage, and to create history alongside Kellie, it was class.”
Unfortunately for Irvine, Olympic preparations suffered a setback when, in his first session at Ireland’s training base in Miyazaki, he injured his back. As result, the experienced St Paul’s ace was barely able to spar before stepping through the ropes against Paalam.
“My back started to spasm and the right side just completely locked on me. I don’t know whether it was the travelling, or whether my hand luggage was too heavy, I can’t put my finger on it.
“I wasn’t able to train for four or five days, I had eight injections into my back… it was a nightmare. But that’s not an excuse, and it might not have been any different anyway.
“When you get into the ring, you’re getting in to win. It’s only you and your opponent, and he came out on top. Simple as that.
“Obviously I didn’t want to walk away with nothing, but the Games was an amazing experience. Sometimes you have to be thankful for the things you have, and for the things you’ve achieved in life.”
