Katie Taylor : journey to Olympic Gold / Jason O'Toole

The picture book that tells the Irish success story of the year! Katie Taylor, beyond question Ireland's most successful contemporary athlete, made history by winning Gold at London 2012. In a remarkable achievement, Katie Taylor won only the ninth Olympic gold medal ever achieved by an Irish athlete since the foundation of the State - and in doing so has ensured her history in the pantheon of all-time Irish greats. With an essay on Katie Taylor and accompanying text to explain each photograph in detail, by well-known journalist and author Jason O'Toole, this beautifully produced book highlights Katie's extraordinary ascent through the ranks of women's boxing all the way to the very top. At 15 years of age, she struck a giant blow for women's boxing by participating in the first officially sanctioned women's bout ever held in this country. She became the first female boxer to win four successive world titles, followed by a total of five European Amateur Championships and four European Union Amateur titles. Her journey culminated in London: her road to gold led her to the first Olympic gold medal awarded to a female boxer in the 60kg division. Katie Taylor: Journey to Olympic Gold is the must-have book for Christmas 2012