Athletics: Israel Olatunde on track to star on 'the grandest stage of them all' 

The Irish star aims to make an impact in Paris this summer. 

Israel Olatunde. Pic: Sam Barnes, Sportsfile

Israel Olatunde was only six years of age, still half-a-dozen years away from the realisation that he wasn’t going to make it as a professional footballer, but watching Usain Bolt destroy the 100m field in the 2008 Olympics would stay with him.

Bolt was fully charged that night. Ricardo Thompson and Walter Dix both produced PBs to make the podium and yet the Jamaican’s world record run of 9.69 saw him finish 0.20 seconds ahead of the silver medallist from Trinidad and Tobago.