“I love the fact that God chooses the lowly ones,” were the words Katie Taylor used to describe her upbringing. From a small town in Ireland to becoming an icon in women’s boxing, the Bray Bomber has come a long way.

The 2012 London Olympics Gold medalist has herself stated that she comes from a “very, very poor family living in the roughest area but God chose our family and did something with us.” But it was not just God who changed the 38-year-old’s life. It was her own hard work, perseverance, and dedication that made it possible for her and her family to come out of the depths of poverty to a better life. Her difficult childhood became the fuel for her to persevere and succeed.

What is Katie Taylor’s ethnicity and nationality?

Katie Taylor was born on July 2, 1986, in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. It was not a pretty childhood, but it paved the way for the Bray Bomber to pursue boxing. Her father, Peter Taylor, a former boxer, introduced her to the sport and was her primary trainer during the initial stage of her career. Taylor himself was a light heavyweight boxer and also worked as an electrician to support his family.

On the other hand, her mother, Bridget, has always been her rock. Even today, before every match, Katie Taylor and her mother pray together, a ritual that the mother-daughter duo do not give a miss. After all, to her, her faith and Christian upbringing are the reason that she has been able to come this far.

For the 23-1 boxer, religion is “my anchor, my rock and there are definitely times I cling onto the word of God. ” While details about her ethnicity are limited, she has broken several social barriers to become a trailblazer in the male-dominated sport in her country.

According to Taylor, she never wanted to be a professional and was “only seeking a better quality of life.” But as she started boxing, her passion took over. It has been 25 years since she started and she is not stopping anytime soon.

However, the credit does not solely rest with her. Her supportive parents and siblings have also played a very important part in her growth, and it is something that she has always been grateful for. However, as time passed, there were some hiccups in her personal life, something that deeply affected her.

More about Taylor’s parents and early life

Katie Taylor grew up with three siblings: two brothers, Lee and Peter, and a sister, Sarah. Her relationship with her family has been a major influence on her career. After all, her father was her first coach and was at her corner during her 2012 Olympics triumph. Taylor is the youngest of four siblings and used to train with her brothers, who were also involved heavily in sports.

Taylor competed in a range of sports during her childhood, including soccer. Interestingly, she was also called up for the Irish Senior soccer women’s team. But in the end, she chose to box and has never looked back since.

Her father used to box in amateur circuits and was the 1986 Irish senior light heavyweight champion. He shaped her boxing style in the initial years and had a huge influence on her. But, as time passed, tension started arising between the duo and the pressure of their father-daughter dynamic started affecting the undisputed super lightweight champion. Eventually, the 38-year-old parted ways with Peter as her coach in 2016.

This partnership came after Peter’s divorce from Bridget, which affected Taylor at a very personal level. Even her game was affected as she crashed out in the quarter-final of the 2016 Olympics after suffering a defeat to Finland’s Mira Potkonen. That is when Katie Taylor decided to turn pro with her new coaching staff, a decision that her father never approved of.

It has been eight years since the father-daughter duo have talked to each other. Even after the strained relationship, the Irish sensation has never denied her father’s involvement in her career. In her documentary, “Katie” she stated, “Every time I was stepping into the ring without my dad at that time, I was missing an arm,” reflecting on the importance of her father in her corner.

On the other hand, Katie Taylor still has a very deep and personal relationship with her mother. Bridget has been Taylor’s rock and has been with her daughter during every fight. The Bray Bomber has often talked about how her mother provides stability in her life and has always offered her emotional support when times get tough.

The mother-daughter duo always pray together ahead of every fight and they will do one more time on November 15, when Taylor faces Amanda Serrano in a historic rematch in Arlington, Texas.

What are your views regarding Katie Taylor’s upbringing? Would she have been able to achieve this level of stardom without her father? Let us know your thoughts down below.