Amy Broadhurst is used to waiting and so will hang tough for a few more days before achieving her childhood dream to box in the Olympic Games.
Ireland's boxers get their qualification bids underway from today in Poland. Broadhurst, last year's World welterweight champion, will be among those stepping into the ring - she faces Serbia's Milena Matovic - and, once she keeps winning, she will have her shot at Paris 2024 early next week.
Last December, the Dundalk fighter announced her decision to move up from 60 kg - where first Katie Taylor and then Kellie Harrington ruled the roost - to 66. From lightweight to welterweight.
READ MORE: 'What a woman': Amy Broadhurst says Katie Taylor's willingness to 'die in the ring' puts her on top
It had to happen for the 27-year-old to finally get a shot at the Olympics.
"At the beginning, going to 63, I kind of thought, 'I'm too small'," said Broadhurst, who won her world title at light-welterweight. "Same as 66, 'I'm too small'.
"But really I think 63 is my perfect weight and now I'm not making weight at all - I'm still walking around 64, 65 so I'm not actually moving up the weight.
"I'm just there, and I'm going to use that to my advantage. I'm quicker than them all. They're big and they're strong but if they can't catch you then they're not going to hurt me.
"Last year I was depending on my power a lot because I was able to blow them away, I was giving pounds for fun. It's not the case at 66.
"These girls are coming down from 70, 75 and they're hitting with bigger punches. So it's using my brain then."
Immersed in boxing from an early age through her family, Broadhurst has always wanted to represent Ireland at the Olympics.
She also has another dream. Broadhurst is itching to turn professional - and reaching Paris 2024 will allow her to leave the amateur ranks behind without feeling any guilt.
She knows what she has to do. Winning her quarter-final is everything at the Nowy Targ Arena. If everything works out this week then she will be on the fast track to the paid ranks after the Olympics next summer.
"Since I've been a young girl I've always wanted to go to the Olympics and I've always said that I wouldn't give up on that dream," said Broadhurst.
"There have been highs and lows to my career. I faced losses and to actually be one step away from going to an Olympic Games, to even go to a qualifier in itself is a big achievement for me.
"And if you asked me if I want to win the Worlds three times or go to the Olympics and become an Olympic champion, the answer is to become an Olympic champion.
"I'm really looking forward to being a part of the team over there and hopefully bringing back qualification and a nice medal."
Along with Lisa O'Rourke, Broadhurst hit the heights only achieved by a special group of Irish boxers - Taylor, Harrington and Michael Conlan - in winning a world amateur title.
She has the star quality to follow in Taylor's footsteps and has previously spoken about how the Bray bomber rejuvenated her career by bringing her out to the USA to spar ahead of her epic showdown with Amanda Serrano.
Harrington rejected offers to turn pro after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics but, for Broadhurst, taking the path walked by Taylor after her Rio heartbreak seems a natural fit.
"I have thought about going pro," she said. "Ninety percent yes.
"I'd call myself a bit contrary, I change my mind all the time.
"But I do see my boxing style at the moment really suits being a professional and I do see a big career when I turn pro.
"I have big confidence in myself that I can do very well as a pro but at the same time I adore amateur boxing, I love going away to mad oul countries that you're never going to go to on holidays and to compete in Europeans and Worlds.
"But we'll see what happens. I'll make that decision when the time is right because God forbid if I don't make these Olympics, I'd feel very guilty.
"I'd beat myself up if I did go pro and not try for the Olympics."
Broadhurst is confident that she will succeed. She had a set-back in January when she lost in the Nationals to Grainne Walsh, admitting recently that she felt she had a panic attack in the ring.
"I said in an interview that I was happy that I lost," she said.
"People might think, 'what's wrong with her' but that did me the world of good because in those Elites, the pressure that I had felt, I hated it, even in the dressing-room beforehand I couldn't breathe.
"Beforehand in my mind I was like, 'I'm going to box and I'm going to prove that I'm the best here' but really I shouldn't have boxed, the way I was mentally because all week I was dreading it rather than looking forward to it.
"I couldn't wait to get into the ring so I could get out of it as soon as possible."
But Broadhurst bounced back soon after when an Ireland team competed in Strandja in Sofia and she won gold.
"I'm confident," she said. "I know there are a few names there that are going to be very difficult to get past but I sparred with last year's European champion recently in Germany, Stephanie (von Berge), and I won.
"I was sick as well so to do that against a European champion while not at my best is a big indicator for me that when I'm at my best I'm hard to beat."
Team Ireland Squad
48kg: Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s, Mayo
50kg: Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC, Belfast
52kg: Carly McNaul, Ormeau Road BC, Belfast
54kg: Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg: Michaela Walsh, Emerald BC, Belfast
60kg: Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Dublin
63kg: Amy Broadhurst, St. Bronagh’s ABC, Newry
66kg: Kaci Rock, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
70kg: Christina Desmond, Dungarvan BC/Garda BC
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke, Olympic BC, Galway
