Caitlin Fryers determined to make her mark at Commonwealth Games in special year for Immaculata
Immaculata has produced some of the greatest names in Irish amateur boxing and Ulster Elite flyweight Caitlin Fryers is keen to have her name listed on the club’s roll of honour at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.
John McNally started his career at the West Belfast club and the bantamweight won Ireland’s first ever Olympic medal in the ring at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, when he lost a controversial split decision to hometown fighter Pentii Hamalainen.
It’s 60 years since another Mac fighter, Jim McCourt, returned home from the Commonwealth Games in Kingston Jamacia with a gold medal; in 1964 he suffered a dodgy decision in the Olympic semi final, winning a bronze.
At the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Fryers’ stablemate Eireann Nugent returned after an 11-year hiatus to claim a bronze medal.
The Divis gym has produced countless Ulster and Irish champions and Fryers wants to add to the rich history in a milestone year for the club.
“To be part of the wall of people who have went from the club, it is an honour coming from such an established club in the west,” she said.
“It’s Immaculata’s 80th anniversary so it is good to put the club out there in such a big year for it too.
“It is unreal to be selected for the Commonwealths; I’m excited and can’t wait to get started… I’m buzzing.”
Fryers is a former European silver medallist and is used to the big boxing tournaments.
“I’ve been to multiple world stages but this is different, it is a different vibe to what the Europeans would be,” she said. “I’m excited to go and even to get to watch a couple of new sports that I haven’t seen before so I can’t wait.
“It will be good to see how athletes from different sports get on and seeing what the different between them and boxing is.”
Boxing isn’t the only sport Fryers excels at and she admits she has “always been into sport”.
“I have always been into sport my whole life. Me and my brother have been really close ever since we have been kids. He joined boxing and I just followed suit.
“I stuck at it and he left. I’ve enjoyed it from the minute I stepped into the club so I don’t see why I needed to give it up, I fell in love with it, so it was good.
“I play a good bit of Gaelic football as well; I play for Gort Na Mona up the Springfield Road, I have been kind of in and out this season because it is such a big year and I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks of getting injured.
“They are always behind me so it’s good, I like to play something different because it takes away from the stress of boxing 24/7 too.”
Fryers joked about getting hit harder playing Gaelic than in the ring.
“I have had more black eyes and injuries play GAA than I have from boxing! Both sports keep me fit for the other.
“There is a lot of running involved in boxing so by the time I get onto the pitch it is easy for a good 60 minutes.”
Fryers – one of five female Team NI boxers competing in Glasgow – revealed her main ambition in Glasgow.
“I want a medal and I want a gold; gold is the goal but we’ll take it one bout at a time and once we get into the medal stages, we’ll keep upgrading from there.
“Women’s boxing has been on the rise the last number of years, every time we go away we are brining back medals we are brining back success so I don’t see why they should be a blunder on it, they should be looking out for the girls more than the lads I think.
“The lads are putting in good preparation as well and we have a good strong team this year. The last Commonwealths were brilliant, but we’ll be looking to go a step further again.”