After a dream start to the Tokyo Olympics in carrying the flag for his country in the opening ceremony, Brendan Irvine could unfortunately not hit those heights once again in the ring earlier this morning.
The Belfast native would fall at the first hurdle in the flyweight division, losing in a split decision to Carlo Paalam of the Philippines.
It was a tough loss for the 25-year old, although he can come away with his head held high having left it all in the ring.
As captain of Team Ireland's boxing contingent in Tokyo, his focus will now switch to supporting our remaining boxers in the games.
Speaking to RTÉ after the bout, Irvine summed up just how much he had gone through just to make it to Japan.
What can I do? That's boxing, this stuff happens every day.
The better man won on the day. I did think it was a close fight and I probably could have got a result, but that's just the way it goes.
It's been a roller coaster getting here, but I'm proud to have left it all in the ring and given it my all. There is physically nothing I could have done more.
Now it's time to pick myself up and support the rest of the team...
To be honest, two or three years ago I didn't think I would be standing here. I had an absolute nightmare two years with injury, just tried to get back to full fitness and health.
Nobody expected me to qualify. I was bumping into people on the street and they were saying to me 'I thought you gave up boxing', they just didn't know the nightmare I had faced.
I'm proud to be representing my country, but I'm devastated.
My family are very, very proud of me. Well I hope so anyway!
He can be massively proud of his efforts.
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