In 2008 and 2012, David Oliver Joyce suffered the disappointment of not qualifying for the Olympics in Beijing and London respectively.
Last weekend, his fortune turned as he defeated Volkan Gokcek in a box-off at the European Olympic qualifiers.
Elation was etched across the Athy man's face as he fell to his knees to celebrate victory and qualification - the culmination of years of training.
VIDEO: David Oliver Joyce was overcome with emotion after finally sealing a place at an Olympic Games.https://t.co/cWDyA90i9z
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 17, 2016
Halfway across the world, on another continent, was a man delighted for Joyce - someone who had played a major part in his journey to the Olympics - Billy Walsh.
The US boxing coach told the Irish Sun that Joyce's qualification reduced him to tears.
Last Sunday morning I was in my bed, we have a rest day on a Sunday morning, and I put on my phone and saw Davey Oliver qualify for his place and it brought me to tears.
I absolutely cried because I know what this kid has been through. I’ve been with him since he was 15.
Walsh never wanted to leave this country, that's clear.
Even though he's now part of the US coaching set-up, he still finds ways to aid the Irish boxers once under his tutelage.
After Joyce and Brendan Irvine qualified for Rio last weekend, he called both of them with congratulations.
I’m still Irish. It’s never going to leave me. I’ve been with Irish boxing since I was seven years of age. You don’t forget these guys. And my nephew was on that team as well, so you’d be in contact with a lot of them.
I was always sending them words of encouragement, words of focus, as they went into each fight on what they need to be focusing on.
Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
