Kellie Harrington created history in Tokyo as she became the first Irish boxer to win gold since Katie Taylor.
Harrington was emotional in the ring as she was named the best boxer in the world in the tense affair against Beatriz Ferreira.
It looked like it was always going to be an uphill battle from Harrington when her silky Brazilian opponent dictated the tempo early on in the first round but, to her credit, Harrington grew into the first round with a number of counter hooks.
And the Portland Row native's game plan seemed to be working deep into the first round as Ferreira was the aggressor and Harrington landed a number of clean shots but the judges scored the first round 3-2 in Ferreira's favour.
Similar to Katie Taylor in London nine years ago, Harrington remained calm and trusted her own boxing ability and the Dubliner started the second round sharply with a number of heavy shots landed and kept her distance from her opponent and although she hit the ground it was an evident trip.
Harrington was clearly frustrating her opponent in the second round and showed her true class and won it on all five of the judges cards and was poised to win the gold medal going into the final round as she produced her best boxing in her career and her opponent lost her first round of this Olympic Games.
And her Brazilian opponent had to bring her A game to the final round in what was nervous to watch for Irish viewers.
Ferreira gave Harrington everything she could as Harrington relied on counter punches and neither took a backwards step in the final round but the Irish fighter stayed calm under pressure and managed the fight beautifully.
And despite the limited crowd of Irish supporters, the scenes echoed Katie Taylor in 2012 as Harrington fell to her knees as she was announced the Olympic Gold Medal winner.
Harrington joins Katie Taylor and Michael Carruth as Ireland's only gold medal winners in boxing.
And speaking after the fight to RTE, the gold medal winner said she was relieved and hailed her fellow opponents.
"I feel relief. We're all champions. Anyone who steps in between those ropes are champions.
"Every fight has been a tough fight, every fight has been a gold medal fight and and it's just fantastic. I just can't wait to get back home, to sit on my couch and to sleep, to rest.
"I'm absolutely exhausted to be honest, I'm like a fluffy pigeon going around I'm that grey at this stage. What a journey and it's just fantastic"
And Harrington said the support back home spurred her on to win gold in the biggest stage.
"There's been times in my career and people say that the whole country is behind you, this time I really feel the whole country is behind me.
"People might say that's a lot of pressure and you might feel like you've a lot of weight on your shoulders but I actually really didn't because I knew no matter what happened out here today whether it was gold or silver or whatever that I made myself proud and I know I'd made the people of Ireland proud regardless of the colour of the medal.
"Just being here and putting our little nation on the map, this is the stuff of dreams."
And Harrington struggled to asses her own performance after the fight.
"I don't really know what happened in there. I know I was down in the first round and came back and it was a close round.
"The second round I got and the third round was very close as well."
And Harrington further hailed her opponents as she oozed class in her Olympic victory.
"I am speechless again and it's amazing and thank you to the people back home for all the support, it really means the world to me. Like I said, we are all champions here, I might have got the gold but anyone who gets here is a champion."
