Ireland’s newly-crowned European middleweight boxing champion has returned to a hero’s welcome at his local club in Galway city.
22-year-old Gabriel Dossen was joined by recent World Champion Lisa O’Rourke and her sister Aoife, who contested the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Mr Dossen said his gold medal victory in Armenia still feels ‘unreal’ and he paid tribute to his local club and head coach, Mike Mongan for having faith in him and leading to his success at the European Championships.
His win against England’s Lewis Richardson in the middleweight final ensured Team Ireland returned home with a gold medal.
He also paid tribute to his mother, Meserk Moti, who he said believed in him enough to put his college education on hold.
Mr Dossen was born on the Ivory Coast and came to Galway with his family as an infant.
His mother, who is from Ethiopia, described her son’s achievement as “amazing”.
She said he had a dream and never stopped training, and his ultimate goal is the Paris Olympics.
All three boxers were coached at the Olympic Boxing Club in Galway’s Westside, where their outstanding achievements were today honoured as a World champion, a European champion, and a Multi Nations champion.
Mr Dossen and Lisa and Aoife O’Rourke sprinkled some gold on young boys and girls who are now flocking to the club to take up boxing.
Autographed photos and words of encouragement were freely given out to delighted fans like six-year-old Darragh Williams.
“I love boxing. I train hard and I love Gabriel Dossen. I want to be a world champ some day,” he said.
A big welcome from family and friends at Olympic Boxing Club Westside Galway for boxing champs @Gabi_Dossen and Lisa and AoifeO’Rourke @rtenews @mikemonganolybc #EuropeanChampion #WorldChampion #MultinationsChampion pic.twitter.com/q6jZYh6HPN
— Teresa Mannion (@TeresaMannion) June 4, 2022
The Olympic Boxing Club is punching above its weight in what has been an extraordinary success story.
Elite boxers have been nurtured and coached to gold by a powerhouse team of trainers from the Mongan family, while Mr Mongan admits it is still a bit surreal.
“We have three elite boxers competing at the highest level but we’ve always had a huge influx of talent going back to Francie Barrett, our flag bearer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
“We have a strong work ethic here and a lot of natural talent. It’s a winning combination,” he said.
The three boxing champs were presented with crystal awards by the secretary of the Galway County Board, Sean Clancy.
Mayor Colette Connolly congratulated the boxers and spoke of how inspirational they are and how they do Ireland proud.
The O’Rourke sisters previously boxed with Castlerea Boxing Club, before joining the Olympic Club.
They credit their coach Paddy Sharkey with putting them on their early boxing journey.
The boxers continue to train at their local club as well as high-performance units nationally and abroad with World Championships, European Games and the Paris Olympics all within their sights.
Mr Dossen said he was delighted that more funding will be allocated to him by Sport Ireland following his win and he can dedicate more time to boxing.
While today it’s all about the boxing, tomorrow Lisa O’Rourke will be wearing primrose and blue when she plays for Roscommon in the All-Ireland Ladies football clash against Kildare.
