IABA Head Coach Zauri Antia on: OFI President’s award, the Irish warrior spirit & coaching culture

The Olympic Federation of Ireland bestowed the President’s Award on Zauri in November, in recognition of his two decades of service to Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, Boxing. The accolade, which describes Zauri as the “mastermind behind Team Ireland’s success in boxing” recognises significant contributions to Olympic sport in Ireland and was bestowed by OFI President, Sarah Keane. Zauri has been a High Performance coach for 20 years, and Head Coach for a decade. In the last year alone, IABA Elite boxers have won two World titles (Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O’Rourke), two Men’s European Championship medals (Gabriel Dossen and Dylan Eagleson), 7 Women’s European Medals (Kellie Harrington, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Caitlyn Fryers, Tina Desmond and Shannon Sweeney), 3 medals at the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament. Five, Kellie Harrington, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley, claimed podium finishes at the European Games, and booked their tickets to Paris in the process. Zauri’s impact on Irish boxing has been profound. Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, with 18 medals out of the country’s total of 35. Half of Ireland’s boxing medals have been won through Zauri’s coaching skills. That’s in addition to the over 140 medals in his tenure at major tournaments – World Championships, European Championships, European Games and EU Championships. Interim High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, says “Long overdue recognition to the sport, Boxers and all the staff past and present that drive performance. #Boxing #boxer #boxingcoach #highperformance #eliteboxing #olympicboxing #ZauriAntia #IABA #boxingireland #irishboxing #tokyo2020 #olympicgames