A Legacy of Excellence: The O’Rourke Sisters in the Ring and Beyond
Boxing has always been more than just a sport for the O’Rourke family. For Aoife O’Rourke, 28, and her younger sister Lisa, 23, it is a shared passion that has shaped their lives and careers. Both are accomplished boxers, with Lisa having claimed a gold medal at the 2022 World Championship in the light middleweight category. Recently, they returned from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Serbia, both walking away with silver medals, marking a significant achievement for the sisters.
Aoife described the experience as one of the highlights of her career. “Doing it with Lisa was incredible,” she said. “It was definitely one of the highlights of my career so far, getting to bring home two silver medals to Castlerea and the community in Roscommon.” The championships were intense, with tough fights right from the start. “That’s to be expected at that level; there’s no easy fights,” she added.
Aoife, a four-time European champion and two-time Olympian, emphasized the importance of having her sister by her side. “We’re getting to see the world together. We’re getting to represent our community, our town, county and Ireland on the biggest stages in boxing, and to be doing that with a sister is absolutely incredible.” She noted that not many people can say they have achieved such success with a sibling. “We’re there for each other. We’re roommates when we’re away. We support each other.”
Aoife takes pride in her Olympic performances and European titles. “They’re all highlights… getting the opportunity to go to these places, different countries, and experience all that I have.” While she doesn’t single out one standout moment, she acknowledges that winning the silver medal in Serbia was among her proudest achievements. “Doing it with Lisa made that trip extra special.”
The boxer also expressed her gratitude for being able to pursue boxing full-time. “Getting the opportunity to [be a full-time athlete] is incredible. I’m very, very honoured and grateful to get to do what I do.”
However, the O’Rourke sisters’ talents extend beyond the boxing ring. Last month, they secured a world doubles title in Hyrox, a fitness competition. Aoife admitted that winning a world title in a sport other than boxing wasn’t part of their original plan. “We went out there to have fun… and next thing we knew, we were the first double back to the wall balls [the final segment of the contest], and ran up the ramp.” She recalled the surprise of discovering they had become champions. “And then, a few moments later, we found out that we’re the fastest and that we’re a champion. So that was really special.”
Aoife credited their participation in the Hyrox World Championships in Chicago to the support they received from their local community. “It’s an expensive trip, and we’re just so grateful that we had people at home that sponsored us and looked after us. Only for them, we probably wouldn’t have made the trip.” She highlighted the importance of community support in achieving their dreams. “It all comes back to your community and the people that you have surrounding you, supporting you on your journey and trying to make your dreams come true.”
