The Irish Olympic team completed sparring sessions with Italy and Azerbaijan in Assisi today……
John Joe Nevin and Irish head coach Billy Walsh
A tough day at the office” is how Irish head coach Billy Walsh described today’s intensive training and sparring sessions at Ireland’s final training camp before London 2012 in Assisi, Italy.
The Irish 2012 Olympic team completed sparring sessions with Italy and Azerbaijan at the CTF of Santa Maria degli Angeli venue this afternoon.
Ireland’s six-strong Olympic squad will enjoy a rest day tomorrow before their final four-day training cycle in Assisi before leaving for London early next week ahead of the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.
“We had good, hard sessions with Italy and Azerbaijan today to end our four-day training cycle. It was a tough day at the office, and while we got a lot of work down we still have more work to do, said Walsh.
“Tomorrow is a rest day and we will train amongst ourselves on Friday. We’re back in with Italy and Azerbaijan for further sparring sessions on Saturday and Sunday and we’ll have a final training session amongst ourselves on Monday before we leave for London next Tuesday.”
Italy and Azerbaijan are using their entire Olympic squads in Assisi. A team from the Ukraine is also taking part in the training camp.
The general-weight in for the 2012 Olympics will take place on Friday week. Boxing at the 30th Olympiad will commence on Saturday week in the bantamweight and middleweight classes at the ExCel venue in London.
Eric Donovan and Dean Walsh are training and sparring with the Irish Olympic squad in Assisi.
Irish 2012 Olympic squad
49Kg (Light-flyweight) Paddy Barnes (Holy Family BC, Belfast)
52kg (Flyweight) Michael Conlan (St John Bosco BC, Belfast)
56kg (Bantamweight) John Joe Nevin (Cavan BC)
60kg (Lghtweight) Katie Taylor (Bray BC, Wicklow)
69kg (Welterweight) Adam Nolan (Bray BC, Wicklow)
75kg (Middleweight) Darren O’Neill (Paulstown BC, Kilkenny)
Team Manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Pete Taylor
Physio: Conor McCarthy
Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary
Performance Psychologist: Gerry Hussey
