The Wicklow-born Delany remains Ireland’s last Olympic gold medallist in athletics, and to this day his Melbourne glory ranks among the greatest ever achievements in Irish sporting history. Delany’s gold medal run in Melbourne at age 21 also made him a worldwide athletics star of his time. I don’t do maybes, but it is terrifying to think about my life if I hadn’t won that Olympic gold medal. I can’t actually conceive it.”[ Happy 90th birthday, Ronnie Delany: from Wicklow’s fields to Olympic goldOpens in new window ]Ronnie Delany winning the 1,500 metres at the Melbourne Olympic Games of 1956 sparked huge interest in the sport at home. Paying tribute, Lochlann Walsh, President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland said: “Ronnie Delany was one of Ireland’s greatest Olympians and a defining figure in Irish sporting history.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2026 00:14 UTC