Kells boxing starlet hoping to follow in Kellie’s footsteps

Kells native, Kenia Prado has made the trip to Banja Luka in Bosnia this week for the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships and is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Olympic hero, Kellie Harrington.

Kenia is 12-years-old and has been boxing for the last two years under the guidance of her father and coach, Brazilian native, Anderson Prado, with the support of her mother, Gemma Flood.

Kenia's weight division is 42kg and she has previously won fights at the All-Ireland Championships and Cadet competitions. A pupil of St Colmcille's SNS, her classmates and teachers have been praising her achievements within the school and as a result, Kenia is a popular figure around town.

Kenia does most of her training at Glasnevin Boxing Club but her father Anderson, works as a personal trainer in Kells so Kenia can train locally also.

Anderson hopes that his daughter's success will entice more young kids into the sport and he is currently working with Youthreach groups in the area in order to get more young people involved in boxing.

Speaking about her daughter's achievements in qualifying to fight at the championships, Kenia's mother, Gemma spoke about the immense pride she has for what her daughter has achieved.

“We are unbelievably proud of her. It can be hard at times for me as her parent to watch her go through all the hardship of training and the struggles but I am so proud of what she has achieved.”

The whole country is watching Kellie Harrington fighting for Ireland at the Olympics in Paris at the moment and Gemma explained how Kenia has a special connection to the Dublin fighter.

“Kellie Harrington trained in the same gym as a child as Kenia is now. Kellie is a huge inspiration to Kenia. Similar to what Kellie experienced, Kenia is actually the only girl in Glasnevin boxing club. Kenia is hoping that she can follow in the footsteps of Kellie.”

If Kenia wins her first fight in Bosnia she is guaranteed a bronze medal and she, along with her parents, Anderson and Gemma, are optimistic about the possibility of bringing home a medal from Bosnia.

Kenia is part of an elite young group of Irish boxers hoping for success on the international stage. This crop of young boxers will hopefully one day be able to emulate the success that some of the Irish boxers have had at the Paris Olympics over the last couple of weeks.

You can follow along with Kenia's progress along with the rest of the young Irish athletes at the championships on the Irish Athletes Boxing Association's Facebook page.