Phil Healy: 'I could perform unbelievably and not make it through'

In Tokyo Healy will become the first Irish athlete ever to contest three events at one Olympics, beginning with the mixed 4x400m relay on 30 July, followed by the 200m heats on 2 August and 400m heats on 3 August.

‘I’m just excited to get out there, says Irish sprinter Phil Healy as the Bandon AC athlete prepares to appear in her first Olympic Games. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Here's the reality: Phil Healy won’t win a medal at the Olympics. In the three events she’ll contest, she likely won’t make a final and, truth be told, there’s a reasonable chance she won’t make it out of the heats.

But here’s the other reality: That in itself won’t constitute a failure. Far from it.