Hi °C | Lo °C KATIE'S strong religious faith has been on plain view during the past few momentous days, with the boxer crediting her extraordinary Olympic success to her relationship with God.
Around 100 supporters gathered in Katie's St Mark's Pentecostal church in the city centre to cheer on our new Olympic gold medallist yesterday.
Her supporters joined Sean Mullarkey, pastor at St Mark's Church on Pearse Street, to wish the boxer well and say prayers for her.
The pastor is now planning a special thanksgiving service with Katie and her family to celebrate her victory.
"I've been here 11 years and for the last eight I've been senior pastor and Katie and her family have been part of all that's going on during that time," he said.
"She's one of the most genuine people you'll ever meet. You'd run out of superlatives and descriptives for Katie, she's a very, very genuine person.
"I hope she enjoys the success and gets to savour it and that she receives the plaudits that she deserves. We were definitely praying for her here."
But pastor Mullarkey has said he would now like to see Katie retire from boxing, as does her father Peter.
"It'd be my preference and I know it's Peter's preference that she finishes now while she's healthy, and that she finds whatever is her next calling.
"She'd be such a great ambassador on so many levels for so many helpful organisations if she doesn't go into training other girls in boxing.
"On the last Sunday before she went to the Olympics she came up on stage and I said thanks for being a great role model for my kids. My kids are crazy about her."
He added: "Her faith isn't something that she does on Sundays, it's a weekday relationship with God and it impacts on her every day."
Meanwhile, young supporters of Katie described her as a humble hero, who is never afraid to show her faith.
Sarah Doherty (19) from Buckingham Street said: "She's Christian and I love the way she's so open about it. People respect that as well."
And Des Curtis from Greystones, a youth worker at the church, added:"That was a tough fight. But Katie really deserved it and I'm just delighted for her."
hnews@herald.ie
