From a young girl fighting for her place in boxing gyms to headlining a historic night at Croke Park, Katie Taylor's remarkable journey has come full circle.
The Bray woman will bring the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in Irish sporting history this Saturday, September 5, when she faces undefeated French fighter Flora Pili in front of a crowd of 80,000 people at the historic venue.
It is a stage that would have been almost unimaginable when Taylor first began boxing as a child. At the time, opportunities for girls in the sport were scarce and she has recalled having to disguise herself as a boy in order to get fights during her earliest years in the ring.
What followed was an extraordinary rise which would not only change Taylor's life, but help transform women's boxing itself.
From five consecutive World Championship gold medals and that unforgettable Olympic triumph at London 2012 to becoming an undisputed professional world champion and headlining Madison Square Garden, Taylor has repeatedly broken new ground throughout her career.
Now, after decades spent carrying Irish boxing onto the biggest stages in the world, the 40-year-old will finally get the Croke Park homecoming she has dreamed about for years.
Ahead of what promises to be an emotional farewell on Saturday night, we look back through the archives at some of the moments that chart Katie Taylor's journey from a young boxer in Bray to one of Ireland's greatest ever sporting stars.
Take a look through our gallery above to see Katie Taylor through the years.
Katie Taylor will face Flora Pili at Croke Park on Saturday, September 5, with coverage on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player beginning at 8pm.
The main card gets underway from 7pm, while Taylor and Pili are expected to make their ring walks at around 10pm, although timings may change depending on the earlier bouts. The fight will also be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM
9. 14 September 2006; Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, T.D., with from left, Katie Taylor, with her second gold medal in the Women's European Senior Championship, Jenny Halian, Sarah Halian, Katie Wickham and Aisling Wickham, all athletes in the Dunboyne Athletics Club
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10. 29 November 2008; Katie Taylor, Ireland, celebrates after her 13 points to 2 victory over Cheng Dong, China, in their 60kg bout. AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships
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11. 21 April 2006; Katie Taylor, Republic of Ireland Women's Senior International, at a photocall ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2007 qualifying game against Switzerland
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12. 25 November 2006; Katie Taylor at Dublin airport arriving home from the Fourth Women's World Championships, where she was crowned World Champion
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