Gerry Storey

Gerry Storey MBE is an Irish boxing trainer who has coached the Irish Olympic Boxing Team on four occasions.

Storey is the head coach of the Holy Family Boxing Club in north Belfast.cite web | title = Storey receives prestigious Laureus Award | author = Alex McGreevy | url = http://www.irish-boxing.com/may05/17_May_2005_Gerry_Storey.htm | publisher = "Irish Boxing" | date = 17 May, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-17] Storey and the club were featured in the BBC documentary "Fight Town" in 2003, and the club also appeared in the Daniel Day-Lewis film "The Boxer". [cite web | title = The unglamorous side of boxing is explored on BBC World Service | author = | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/05_may/13/ws_boxing.shtml | publisher = "BBC" | date = 13 May, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-17] As a professional boxer, Storey won a British Championships title. Storey has trained many boxers including Hugh Russell, Neil Sinclair and former world Featherweight champion Barry McGuigan.

McGuigan was training by Storey from the age of 14 through to his Olympic and Commonwealth bids, and claims Storey's club is the "most successful boxing club in the country". Storey's son Sammy is also an accomplished amateur boxer who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1986 Commonwealth Games.cite web | title = Boxing: Storey gives peace fighting chance | author = Alan Hubbard | url = http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article549462.ece | publisher = "The Independent" | date = 21 May, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-02-17] cite web | title = Irish Legends honoured at finals | author = Bernard O'Neill | url = http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=21245 | publisher = "SecondsOut.com" | date = 2 January, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-02-17]

Storey's work has helped to bridge the sectarian divide in Belfast, as he trains both Catholics and Protestants. [cite web | title = Fighting the good fight | author = Kathleen Nutt | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20000709/ai_n13951351/pg_1 | publisher = "The Sunday Herald" | date = 9 July, 2000 | accessdate = 2007-02-17] During the 1981 Irish hunger strike he was asked by Loyalist and Republican prisoners to oversee boxing training in the Maze Prison gymnasium. As a result of his work he won the "Sport For Good" award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Estoril, Portugal on 16 May, 2005. Storey received his award from Barry McGuigan and Marvin Hagler, and was the first Irish sportsperson to win a Laureus award.cite web | title = Storey picks up world sport award | author = | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4554411.stm | publisher = "BBC News" | date = 17 May, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-16] Storey was honoured by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association for his contribution to the sport in Dublin on 2 February, 2007. [cite web | title = Joyce shines at National Championships | author = | url = http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0203/boxing.html | publisher = "RTÉ" | date = 3 February, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-02-16]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.

References

External links

* [http://www.laif.de/en/article/15138.html?WGSESSID=5e26eb38ebd55f107f25b91b229a1699 Gerry Storey - Boxing for Peace]