'I'm so disappointed... I wasn't coming here to make up the numbers': Gráinne

In the moments after her defeat in Paris today, Gráinne Walsh expressed bitter disappointment at the outcome but also spoke about her pride in having represented her country at the Olympic Games.

And she vowed that she will be back, saying, "this is not the last you'll see of Gráinne Walsh".

In an interview with RTÉ's Joe Stack after her 4-1 split decision defeat to Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori, the Offaly woman said: "I'm so disappointed. I feel that I put in so much hard work to get to this point.

"I wasn't just coming here to make up the numbers - I know I'm miles better than that.

"I probably wasn't let show my best... it was sloppy. But I have to roll with the punches, as the saying goes, and I'll come back."

When asked if she had struggled to find her own rhythm during the contest, she said: "I suppose I did, yeah. I expected (Hamori) maybe to be more on the back foot, but you have to be able to adapt.

"I rely so much on my coaches and my corner, and I feel that we're one big team, even though it's an individual sport. They're with me all the way and I trust their guidance 100%.

"I'm just disappointed, for all the work they put into me, that I couldn't produce the best version of Gráinne Walsh.

"But this isn't the end of the road. I'm only 28, and I feel like I'm coming into my peak. I have had so many setbacks that I've spoken about openly. I'm no stranger to a comeback, so you'll see me again."

Gráinne has had a litany of injury setbacks in recent years, and in the post-fight interview she suggested that she may have picked up another one.

When asked about the "adversity and injuries" she's experienced, she replied: "I've another one to add to the list, but who's counting?"

A number of fans from Offaly were in attendance at the bout today, and Gráinne spoke about how much their support meant to her.

"I feel the support so much in there. There are so many people from home that came over to see me. That just means the world to me, and I'm bitterly disappointed to not give them the celebration that they deserve as well for being with me all the way. I'm very grateful.

"I'm seeing all the Tricolours and the Offaly jerseys... thanks so much to everyone for all the support. Honestly, that means the world to me."

While the outcome today wasn't the one she would have wished for, she said she was proud of have joined that select group of athletes in world sport who get to represent their country at the Olympic Games.

"To get to that stage, to be an Olympian... an Olympian once, an Olympian for life," she said.

"There are many kids at home that are looking up to us, and I'm very proud to be a leader and a role model to those people at home. I just want to thank all the people at home that are supporting me.

"This is not the last you'll see of Gráinne Walsh, that's for sure," she concluded.