The Olympic rings still holds much resonance for Aidan Walsh

While the debate rages over boxing's future as an Olympic sport beyond 2024, the politics of it all is not something that overly concerns 2020 bronze medallist Aidan Walsh as he sets his sights on making the Paris Games in two years' time.

The Belfast competitor was on the podium in the welterweight division in Tokyo - the colour of the medal could have been different had he not sustained an ankle injury that ruled him out of his semi-final bout.

In this summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the 25-year-old stepped up in weight and duly took home a gold medal in the 71kg class. It was a Games to remember for the Walsh clan in the English midlands, with sister Michaela also scooping gold in the women's 57kg.

The next Summer Olympics are fast approaching, and when asked about the prospect of amateur boxing not featuring at the LA Games in 2028 as a conseqence of a power struggle between the International Boxing Association and the IOC, Aidan Walsh was simply focused on events in the short term

"My goal now is the 2024 Olympics. Who knows whether I'll get to go or not go. These are questions I'm asking myself. What can I do to get to the 2024 Olympics? Anything that happens after that I really can't control," he said, speaking to RTÉ Sport at the Olympic Federation of Ireland's inaugural Make A Difference Athletes' Fund Golf Tournament at The K Club.

Walsh has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on his right arm, this from somebody who does not even like tattoos.

"I remember walking into the boxing club and seeing those rings," he recalled.

"That's why clubs have such an influence on kids. The Olympics has a special place in our family after Michaela and I both qualifying. The Olympic dream is very special and those rings on my