Great achievements are a great challenge

At exceptional moments like this it is easy to see how great and positive an influence sport can be, and generally is, in our lives.

Katie Taylor’s London gold medal may be the apex moment or John Joe Nevin may well join her on the medal podium’s highest point but the resolve, the character and the emotional steel Paddy Barnes displayed yesterday afternoon was so inspiring as to be moving.

Remember the Belfast man suffered a 15-0 humiliation, albeit questionable, at the hands of the same opponent at the last Olympiad in China. Yesterday he drew 15-15 with world champion Shiming Zou and lost only on a count-back. Very few of us would have the depth of character needed to complete such a difficult journey of personal redemption. This exceptional achievement offers us all a valuable lesson in how to confront our demons.