A young boxer from Gateshead has returned from the U15 European Boxing Championships in Trabzon, Turkey, with a gold medal, having overcome a serious illness just weeks before the tournament.
Brogan Darrie, 13, who boxes for Felling ABC, won gold in the U40kg category after beating Russia in the final. She was the only boxer from the North East selected in her age group.
England's successful campaign
The England team claimed nine medals at the competition last month – five gold, one silver and three bronze – finishing third in the overall standings.
Felling ABC said in a statement: "Brogan Darrie is one of our very own homegrown talents here at Felling ABC, and we honestly couldn't be prouder of what she has achieved. What makes Brogan’s European gold medal even more remarkable is what she had to overcome just to get there."
Battle back from illness
Only six weeks before she was due to fly to Turkey, Brogan was so ill that the club did not know whether she would even make it there. "But through sheer determination and resilience, Brogan battled her way back," the statement added.
The club described her journey from being so ill she could hardly do 30 seconds of training to standing on top of the podium with a European gold medal around her neck just weeks later as "an incredible achievement".
Outstanding performances
In the quarter-finals, Brogan beat Turkey with a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision. In the semi-finals, she faced Ireland and won by RSC (referee stopped contest).
The club said her success "means absolutely everything" and has already inspired younger boxers at the club, particularly young girls. "She's living proof that it's not where you come from, it's where you're going," the statement concluded.
