Eleven-time national champion Robin Seymour placed 30th of 43 finishers in this morning's 26.9-mile Mountain Biking Cross Country Olympic race at Metochi's Parnitha complex.

It was far from the ending to her fifth Olympic final that Sonia O'Sullivan had dreamt of, but, having been burned off the pace after 2-and-a-half laps of tonight's 5000m final, the Cobh athlete was still thankful for the experience.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN has been travelling a familiar path along the Olympic route and this weekend could see her repeat her Sydney 2000 strategy should she double up over 800m and 1,500m at the Woodies DIY National Championships at Morton Stadium.

The Olympic Council of Ireland last night sensationally extended the Athens qualification deadline for Irish track and field athletes to 5pm on July 20, in the wake of Athletics Ireland's case pleaded on behalf of those close to the A standard.

Ireland's Olympic bosses have been slammed for being undemocratic in a special report by the Sports Council on our performance at Sydney 2000, launched today by Sports Minister Jim McDaid.