Boxing champion has sights set on Olympics

Double world women's boxing champion Katie Taylor arrived at Dublin airport this morning with her sights set on Olympic gold in 2012.

"The only one I need to get now is the Olympic gold medal, I've done everything else in amateur boxing," she said.

The Bray champion was welcomed home from China by her brother Peter, other family and friends as well as members of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.

The 22-year-old retained her world lightweight boxing title with a 13-2 win over Chinese boxer Cheng Dong in Saturday's final at the fifth AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo City, China.

However expectations of retaining her title had put her under pressure, "It was very tough competition and the pressure on me was huge, everyone expected me to go out there and win," she said.

However she is "delighted and relieved" with her win and plans to relax and enjoy herself until after Christmas.

Katie's coach and father Peter as well as her mother Brigid had travelled with her to China. This morning they were tired after some 40 hours of travelling but "delighted" at her victory.

A decision is expected over the next few weeks by the International Olympic Committee about whether or not to allow women's boxing into the Olympics for 2012.

"I think we deserve boxing in the Olympics …I can retire happily after that," Katie said this morning.

Billy Walsh, who coached this year's Irish Olympic boxing medallists, also met Katie at the airport and was impressed with her performance. "This is fantastic and phenomenal, back to back world titles are very hard to come by and she just keeps raising the standard and raising the bar," he said.

President Mary McAleese today congratulated Katie, describing her as an "outstanding sportswoman who represents this country at the highest level with immense skill, courage and pride."

"This is such a wonderful moment for Katie and her family, and one in which all of us can share," Mrs McAleese added in a statement.