"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play…it is war minus the shooting."
Katie Taylor
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Jason O.Toole, Dublin, Tea Pot Press, 2012. ISBN 978071715606
This pictorial book, with accompanying explanatory text for each photograph, c harts the highlights of Katie Taylor’s career from the first officially sanctioned women’s bout in Ireland to Olympic gold.Katie’s strong Christian faith shines through the book. She often quotes Psalm 18 to the press, praising God in post-match press conferences for being her ‘shield’ and her ‘strength’ when she steps into the ring.
Prior to every fight, Katie’s pre-match ritual involves a routine of listening to Christian rock music on her iPod when she is warming up for the fight. She will then pray and recites Bible verses – particularly Psalm18, which is affectionately known among he church’s congregation as ‘Katie’s Psalm’, with her mother, when Bridget is tying back her daughter’s hair.
The book asks if it is “a contradiction to imagine someone with such strong religious values being involved in what many consider to be a violent sport?” but suggests that Katie finds the answer to that question is Psalm 18.
Her church pastor, Sean Mullarkey, says of her, “A lot of the athletes can lose their focus or lose their peace – Katie has an amazing peace about her. All of these things [in Psalm 18] are in her head and her heart as she goes into battle and she knows she’s not alone”.
Katie’s mother is quoted as: “We believe that everything that Katie has achieved comes from God, and what she’s doing is a gift from him. I always pray with her before every fight for protection and strength. We believe that comes from God, and what she’s doing is a gift from him. I always pray with her before every fight for protection and strength. We aren’t praying for winning. It’s just putting things in his hands and praying that there will be no obstacles in the way and things like that.”
Katie believes that God called her into the ring. “I just feel that this is exactly what he wants me to do, and I just want to honour him in everything I do and live a really great life for him… I think boxing is what I was born to do. Everyone has gifts and talents, and that’s what God wants you to do. I think it puts a big smile on God’s face when you’re doing what you were born to do”
The book tells the story of how Katie sees boxing as a central part of her Christian life.