Offaly boxer Gráinne vows to return after ACL setback

Offaly boxer Gráinne Walsh has vowed to return to the ring after undergoing major reconstructive surgery on her knee.

In a social media post this week, the 30-year-old Tullamore woman revealed she underwent Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction on her right knee at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry.

Gráinne represented Ireland at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and earned a bronze medal at the world championships in Liverpool last September.

However she has suffered her fair share of injury setbacks over the years and posted photos this week showing herself in bed after the recent knee surgery.

"Never expected to be in this position after all my previous injuries. Really felt I had built up enough resilience to last a lifetime but obviously another few lessons to be learned yet!" Gráinne wrote.

"Excited to see what comes from all of this. I have amazing people around me so I know I'm in the best hands.

"I'm also going to be documenting my return to sport, so follow along if that's what you're interested in!"

She also showed that her unfortunate luck with injuries has not dented her sense of humour. "At this point my anaesthetist should stamp my loyalty card," she wrote.

In April, Gráinne travelled with the Irish team to the World Boxing Cup in Brazil but didn't compete in the tournament due to her knee injury.