Parking 'the sadness, the madness' - Kellie Harrington eyes Paris Games and focused on feeling good

Kellie Harrington brought the country to a standstill at the last Olympics as the entire nation followed her step by step as she won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

The Dubliner's epic journey to the top of the podium really caught the imagination of the country as Harrington emulated Katie Taylor to win boxing gold at the Covid-delayed Games, which took place a year later than scheduled in 2021.

Honoured and humbled in equal measure, Harrington wore her heart on her sleeve as she reached the pinnacle of her sport with the nation looking on from afar before welcoming home their latest boxing hero.

Three years on and Harrington is going for gold once again at the Paris Games, where she could even surpass Taylor’s amateur successes by securing back to back medals – a feat that the Bray legend was unable to achieve in Rio having won the gold at London 2012.

A lot has happened for Harrington throughout those intervening years since standing proudly to Amhrán na bhFiann in the Japanese capital; from the joyous celebration of marriage to partner Mandy Loughlin and receiving the freedom of Dublin, to the depths of anguish following a social media scenario where she retweeted right-wing commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, which led to tough questions regarding her stance on immigration.

After a tough radio interview with Off The Ball, Harrington admits that she went to a dark place and was thankful for the close circle of support that helped her through the controversy.

"I kind of spiralled downhill…and went to the really darkest of the darkest places," said Harrington, speaking on the Path to Paris, which airs on RTÉ tonight.

"It hasn’t been easy, but I’m made of stronger stuff, and I have a very, very small, strong circle.

"I’ve been