Which in his case meant winning an Olympic gold medal. [ Ronnie Delany’s Olympic gold medal lifted a nation, but he almost didn’t make it ]“I think it was a split vote in the end,” he said. In that sense, Delany’s success in Melbourne occupies the single most pivotal turning point in the long history of athletics. Irish athletics is still waiting for its next Olympic gold medal winner after Ronnie Delany's victory. Still, 70 years after his Melbourne success, Irish athletics is still waiting for its next Olympic gold medal winner.

Source: The Irish Times March 14, 2026 18:01 UTC