Here is a very short list of things we’ve learned so far at Rio 2016:
- It’s almost impossible to beat the Jamaican on the track.
- It’s equally hard to best the American in the gymnastics.
- Hardest of all is fucking over the Irishman in the ring, and thinking you can get away with it.
The world came around to that last fact in the aftermath of the bantamweight bout between Ireland’s Michael Conlan and Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin. Judges awarded the quarter-final to the Russian in a shock decision, despite the fact Conlan objectively wrecked his opponent.
What followed was a full-force blast from Conlan, who said the sport’s officials are “fucking cheats” and that amateur boxing “stinks from the core right to the top”.
Michael Conlan irate after controversial loss. Watch here: https://t.co/Sg2KTSRTDS https://t.co/4fXhWtjbsK
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2016
Welp, it appears the entire nation has now rallied around the bloke. Even IRL’s youngest fighters have cottoned on to the fact their dude was robbed – and Conlan has taken notice.
Very warming message from this young lad, if anyone knows who he is, could they please tell him I hve a gift for him pic.twitter.com/0SQJ63TvEr
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 17, 2016
Life’s a beach ?? #FamilyFirst pic.twitter.com/G10NzqjAwh
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 17, 2016
