Irish amateur boxer Amy Broadhurst has issued a statement following reports that she intend to change her boxing allegiance from Ireland to Great Britain in the hope of securing her childhood dream of competing at the Olympics.
According to a report from the Irish Independent, the Olympic Federation of Ireland confirmed that the Dundalk native intended to seek a change in nationality in response to the IABA's recent decision that she would not be afforded the opportunity to take part in a box-off to try secure a seat on the plane to the final Olympic qualification tournament in Bangkok.
Broadhurst is eligible for a move to Great Britain through her father Tony Broadhurst who is from England. The 27-year-old won gold for Northern Ireland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the same year she was crowned world champion for Ireland.
Broadhurst neither confirmed nor denied the report, but says she will 'explore all options' in regards to reaching the Olympics.
— Amy Broadhurst (@amybroadhurst12) March 28, 2024
Following the decision from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association's High-Performance Unit last week, Broadhurst didn't hold back in letting her feelings be known telling Neil Loughran of the Irish News.
I have a bit more respect for myself as an athlete to be going competing for second spot. I think it’s a piss-take. They told me get yourself fit, get your weight right by the 22nd of March – I did that, I was ready for an assessment next week, and they’re not even giving us an opportunity.
So for me everything I’ve put in over the last 22 years, it just feels like it’s been blown away. Like it’s for nothing, really.
Both the OFI and the IABA acknowledged Broadhurst's intentions saying that they wouldn't stand in her way if she was resolute in her decision to make the switch.
24 June 2023; Amy Broadhurst of Ireland celebrates after her victory against Milena Matovic of Serbia in their Welterweight 66kg bout at the Nowy Targ Arena during the European Games 2023 in Poland. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
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Broadhurst whose preferred weight is lightweight, was informed by the IABA last week that her spot would be given to Grainne Walsh who missed out on welterweight Olympic qualification earlier in the year following a controversial refereeing decision.
Broadhurst had reaffirmed her commitment to competing for Ireland at the Olympic games as recently as February when she was forced out of a prestigious competition in Bulgaria with ligament damage in her ankle. In a post on social media from that time, Broadhurst outlined the difficult time she'd had with injuries but vowed to keep fighting for qualification.
Since the European Games last June I’ve been struggling with a shoulder injury that ruled me out of competitions towards the end of 2023 and just as things were looking positive with that injury, the ankle goes. It’s been mentally a very difficult 6-8 months for me inside and outside the ring.
There’s been talk that I’m going pro but I can assure that’s not the case. My goal is still the Olympic Games. All I ask of people who support me is to be patient because I’ll get there in the end.
Should Broadhurst be successful in her attempts to switch allegiances and qualify for the Olympics, the fighter who won World, European, and Commonwealth titles in 2022 could find herself fighting former teammate and defending Olympic lightweight champion Kellie Harrington in Paris.
At the heart of Amy Broadhurst's decision is that Great Britain are yet to qualify a boxer for this Summer's tournament, opening the book for her to compete on their behalf at that qualification tournament in Bangkok in May.
25 November 2023; Katie Taylor celebrates with boxer Amy Broadhurst, right, after defeating Chantelle Cameron in her undisputed super lightweight championship fight at the 3Arena in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
IABA respond to Amy Broadhurst Allegiance switch request
In a statement today, the Olympic Federation Ireland confirmed that they'd engage with Amy Broadhurst but would not stand in her way if she wanted to make the move.
We were contacted by GB Boxing on behalf of Amy Broadhurst, who has indicated that she intends to seeks a change in nationality in a bid to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
We have discussed this with OFI and Sport Ireland and have expressed our disappointment, while wanting to ensure that she understands the full ramifications of this request and the advice she might be receiving if she decides to go ahead with it.
We have indicated that if she really thinks that this is best for her as a person and an athlete after these discussions that we will not stand in her way.
While Broadhurst has reportedly previously considered a move across the Irish Sea, her belief that she'd get an opportunity to compete for Ireland in the 60kg weight kept her here. While Kellie Harrington has dominated that weight class for Ireland, Broadhurst enjoyed major success at super lightweight, however, with super lightweight not being an Olympic division, it would've forced Broadhurst two weights out of her preferred class.
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