BRUSHING up on her cúpla focal was the only thing on Michaela Walsh’s mind as she advanced to a fourth straight Commonwealth Games final – keeping alive hopes of securing back-to-back golds.
The west Belfast woman was in imperious form in Friday’s semi-final win over Jasmine Daunakamakama, boxing beautifully off the back foot and landing eye-catching shots any time the tough Fijian moved into range.
That moved Walsh into Saturday’s featherweight final, where she faces a major step up in class against tall, elusive Indian Jaismine Lamboria, who brought home gold at last year’s World Championships in Liverpool.
After stepping out of the ring, though, the 33-year-old’s main concern was pizza and extending her Duolingo streak.
“I was actually quite nervous today. I usually am nervous, but I felt a wee bit more nervous, I don’t know why.
“Nerves never go, you just learn how to deal with them better. Sometimes if nerves are used in the wrong way it can affect the performance, but if used in the right way you can control them and use that energy.
“All the experience I’ve had throughout the years, I bring that into al these major tournaments… that girl was actually in training camp with us in Belfast, I remember seeing her going ‘whoa, she’s a good girl’. We had to get the tactics right, and thank God we did.
“Northern Irish boxing is so strong, especially Belfast – there must be something in the tap water, I think. We just produce champion after champion, and I’m just proud to be part of that history.”
Asked about the final, she added: “That’s tomorrow’s issue.
“I’m just going to enjoy the win, get back, recover... I need to do my Duolingo; I’m nearly on my 300 day streak of Irish, so I’ll go back and do that, get a bit of food into me – maybe a bit of pizza if the weight’s good.”
Back in 2014, in her first Commonwealth Games, Walsh lost out in controversial fashion to Olympic champion Nicola Adams in the 51kg final. Twelve years on, in Glasgow again, she insists there is no redemption mission at play.
“Listen, if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.
“Years ago I wanted to right that wrong, but even when I did that in Birmingham [when she won gold], it didn’t feel like that. And, even now, it doesn’t feel like that.
“I’m just going to enjoy where I am now, and tomorrow what will be, will be.”
Brother Aidan, who joined her on top of the podium four years ago, is performance lead with Team NI at these games, while family and friends arrived in Glasgow on Friday as the competition hots up.
“They love it,” smiled Walsh, “they’re a big reason I’m still doing it, and the reason I am where I am today. Their support throughout my whole career has been amazing, I wouldn’t be here without them all.
“I can’t put it into words [Aidan’s impact] – I’d honestly be lost without him. I struggled a lot when he walked away and I was going to these tournaments, I had him tortured on the phone every day.
“But to have him here, his presence around him, the energy he gives me – even just for a chat, I don’t know what it is. He knows me inside out, he knows who I am as a person and what will make me produce good performances.”
SCHEDULE
Friday, July 31
4.15pm - men’s 70kg semi-final: Jon McConnell v Sonny Kerr (Scotland)
4.30pm - men’s 90kg semi-final: Garyn McAllister v Connor Williams (Wales)
8.45pm - men’s 60kg semi-final: Jude Gallagher v Tryagain Morning Ndevelo (Namibia)
Saturday
11.15am - women’s 57kg final: Michaela Walsh v Jaismine Lamboria (India)
11.30am - women’s 65kg final: Kaci Rock v Sascha Hickey (England)
