Cathal Dennehy: Irish athletics is on the rise but chances of winning a World medal are slim

That’s not being negative, just realistic, and only one Irish athlete looks to have true medal potential: Kate O’Connor.

BEST HOPE: Kate O'Connor competes in the women's heptathlon high jump during day seven of the FISU World University Games 2025. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

It was one of the saddest sights at the Tokyo Olympics. Every evening, as I’d approach the Japan National Stadium, soaked in a sticky, humid, greenhouse sweat, I’d pass legions of fans queuing up outside the main gates.

This was the Covid games, devoid of crowds, colour and atmosphere – the things that make the Olympics what they are. But as one of the lucky few to get access, the sound inside that stadium was an eerie, unfamiliar one – silence.