LONDON (AP) — A world champion for Ireland, boxer Amy Broadhurst will try to get to the Paris Olympics fighting for Britain.
The 27-year-old Broadhurst switched allegiance after not being selected by Ireland for the final Olympic qualifier in Bangkok. Instead, she'll go to Thailand next month representing Britain.
British boxing officials made it official on Monday when they announced their contingent of fighters for Bangkok.
Broadhurst was born in Ireland but also holds a British passport through her English father.
“It has always been my dream to compete at the Olympic Games and I am very happy that I have been selected by GB Boxing to go to the final qualifying event in Thailand in May,” Broadhurst said in a statement.
A native of Dundalk, near the Northern Irish border, Broadhurst said last month she was “heartbroken” to be told by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association that she wouldn't be considered for selection to Bangkok. She said she would be “exploring all options.”
Broadhurst, who was bypassed by Ireland as a welterweight, was selected on Monday as a lightweight — the same category as Ireland's Kellie Harrington, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and has already secured qualification to Paris.
Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport. Eighteen of the country’s 35 medals are in boxing.
The decision to switch was “not taken lightly,” Broadhurst said, adding, “I felt I owed it to myself and all the people that have supported me throughout my career to do everything possible to continue to pursue my dream of competing on the biggest stage in sport.”
Broadhurst won the 2022 world and European championships for Ireland at light-welterweight. That year she also won gold at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland as a lightweight.
Rob McCracken, British Boxing’s performance director, said the selection criteria “dictates that we choose people that demonstrate the potential to qualify for and to win a medal at the Olympic Games.”
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
FILE - Northern Ireland's Amy Sara Broadhurst, right, and Nigeria's Cynthia Ogunsemilore, left, compete during the women's light semifinal boxing bout at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Aug. 6, 2022. A world champion for Ireland, Broadhurst will try to get to the Paris Olympics fighting for Britain. The 27-year-old Broadhurst switched allegiance after not being selected by Ireland for the final Olympic qualifier in Bangkok. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Boston Rex Sox star Rafael Devers set a team record when he homered for the sixth consecutive game in Monday night's 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Devers had shared the mark of five with Jimmie Foxx (1940), Ted Williams (1957), Dick Stuart (1963), George Scott (1977), Jose Canseco (1985) and Bobby Dalbec (2020).
“He’s a freak,” Red Sox winning pitcher Tanner Houck said. ”A guy that can hit any pitch at any time, and to see what he’s done, I mean, he’s just an incredible player."
He is the first major leaguer to do it since the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout had a seven-game streak from Sept. 4-12, 2022.
I’m very proud to be in that conversation with him," Devers said through a translator. “Obviously we know the type of superstar that he is. He's a future Hall of Famer and superstar, and to be in the same level with him is very nice.”
The Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch had a five-game home-run streak earlier this season.
Tampa Bay starter Taj Bradley struck out eight of his first nine batters entering the fourth, Devers was only the Boston batter to put the ball in play over the stretch, hitting a comeback groundout that Bradley deflected to second baseman Brandon Lowe.
After Jarren Duran had a leadoff triple in the fourth and scored on Wilyer Abreu's double, Devers connected on a opposite-field homer to left.
“At the moment I wasn’t thinking about that.” Devers said of the record. “It was most about hitting the ball well in the air with men in scoring position. For me to be able to help the team and get ahead with two runs at that point it was a great moment. But yes of course when I got to the dugout and and I saw my teammates, it was a special moment, for sure.”
The homer was Devers' 10th of the season and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Both Boston manager Alex Cora and Devers agree that the slugger is not locked in yet at the plate.
“But the accomplishment is amazing,” Cora said. “Six days in a row hitting homers — shoot, I can't recall how many days in a row I got hits when I played.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, left, and first baseman Dominic Smith celebrate after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays during a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley reacts after Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers runs around the bases after his two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers watches his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers celebrates with third base coach Kyle Hudson (84) after his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
