Nevin: Leaving school cost me the gold

John Joe Nevin believes his failure to finish school prevented him from winning an Olympic gold medal.

John Joe took time out of his hectic schedule to visit children at The Downs National School in Mullingar yesterday, where he displayed his now famous Mullingar shuffle.

John Joe said: “I left school early and that was not a good thing, that lost me the gold medal. I think school helps with sport in a big way and I’d just like to offer back my mistake. What cost me the gold medal, I think, was not staying in school.”