Today is the day Joe Ward becomes an Olympian

Joe Ward is 22, and he’s already won:

Gold: World Junior (Under 17) Championship 2009 (at the age of 15)
Gold: World Youth (Under 19) Championship 2010 (at the age of 16)
Gold: European Senior Boxing Championships 2011 (at the age of 17)
Gold: European Senior Boxing Championships 2015
Gold: Irish National Boxing Championships 2011
Gold: Irish National Boxing Championships 2012
Gold: Irish National Boxing Championships 2013
Gold: Irish National Boxing Championships 2014
Silver: World Senior Boxing Championships 2015
Bronze: World Senior Boxing Championships 2013

Tonight (Wednesday) he becomes an Olympian when he fights in the light-heavyweight division.
Joe will make his Olympic debut at 11.15pm Irish time.
He will meet Carlos Andres Mina from Ecuador, who overcame German Serge Michel in the opening round on Saturday, 3-0 on points.
Carlos Andres Mina (24) is a member of the World Series of Boxing and last year shocked the stylish Cuban and reigning World champion Julio Cesar la Cruz, who has got the better of Ward in the 2013 World Championships semi-final and 2015 World Championships final.
His cousin John Joyce told the Westmeath Independent this week: “It’s a lifetime ambition of Joe’s to compete in the Olympics since he first went into the boxing club in Moate with Seamus Dorrington as his coach. Just to get there is a dream come true for Joe and his family.”