One of DCU Boxing’s finest young talent’s, Céire Smith will represent Ireland at the upcoming European Games which take place later on this year in Baku.
Smith will join a team of Irish boxers which will include fellow DCU student Clare Grace and the dominant Katie Taylor in Azerbaijan’s capital between the 12th and 28th of June this summer.
The 2015 European Games will be the first of its kind in Europe and will follow the model of the Pan American games. The event will feature 6,000 athletes from 50 countries.
Speaking to the College View, Smith said it was an honour to represent her country at the first ever European Games where she will be one of the 62 Irish athletes that will participate in 20 events.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big honour to represent your country at an event like this.”
Looking ahead, Smith said that she was “fairly confident” of doing well in the Games but was looking to give it her best shot.
This isn’t the first time that Smith has represented Ireland across the globe as she has fought for Ireland at the 51kg weight division at the World Elite Championships in 2010 and 2012.
The Sports Science and Health student spoke of her training regime with the Irish squad. She said she felt that being able to work with the likes of Katie Taylor would definitely help her improve.
“The training camps are great because it gives me a good idea of where I am and what I need to work on.”
Smith also believes that the DCU Boxing club on campus has played a big role in her international success.
“I think there is a fantastic set-up here in DCU. You’ve got people like Derek Aherne and Terry Keegan and a whole dedicated team behind you. You can see the success we have at the intervarsity fights how the set-up is working well.”
Smith gave her opinion on the exposure that women’s boxing is starting to get in this country saying that it’s good for the sport and women’s boxing has “definitely gotten far bigger” thanks to the success of the Irish ladies on the world stage.
When asked about her goals, the Cavan woman commented that qualifying for Rio is the aim but she is focusing on using the upcoming All Ireland’s to help further her training which will help her qualify.
“Rio is a long term goal for me. Right now, doing well in the European games the main goal at the moment and I’m just glad to be a part of the team.”
Aidan Delaney
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