Katie Taylor has revealed she slept in her car in between training sessions during a turbulent 2016 in which she experienced the "lowest point" of her career.
The Bray Bomber opened up about the toughest year of her life that saw her no longer being coached by her dad Pete and suffer a shock defeat at the Rio Olympics.
She described the "pinnacle" of career as claiming the Olympic gold medal in London in 2012, but the world champion boxer shed light on some of the reasons why she did not replicate that glory four years later.
Taylor said: "I felt like I was the hot favourite going into the Rio Olympics.
"But the whole year itself was definitely very different.
"I guess I would describe the whole year as being turmoil. A lot turmoil within family relationships.
"It's no secret that myself and my dad had parted ways that year.
"My whole training regime was turned upside down. I was going from club to club, just trying to get a few spars here and there.
"I was in and out of the Irish boxing team. Sleeping in the car in between sessions.
"I wasn't eating properly. My preparation mentally and physically was all over the place."
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on Friday's The Late Late Show, she added: "But I still went in to the competition as the hot favourite and still believed I could win gold.
"When things down pan out the way you hoped and dreamed, you really can't underestimate how heartbreaking that is for an athlete with my mentality.
"Winning is everything. That was easily the lowest point of my career."
