YOU wait 36 years for an Olympic gold medal and then three come along within barely 12 hours.
What an incredible Games for competitors from Northern Ireland in Paris – and we’re only five days in.
Most of Ireland will have been gripped to their televisions to cheer Daniel Wiffen on in the swimming pool on Tuesday evening.
With some swimming events, the waiting is short and the result comes quickly but given the Magheralin man had 16 lengths of the pool to complete, it allowed time for heart-rates to rise and rise until that incredible climax as he sprinted for the wall while his rivals from the USA and Italy desperately tried to catch him. Happily, they couldn’t.
No sooner had we almost caught our breaths than news came through that Belfast’s Jack McMillen would also be bringing home an Olympic gold medal, courtesy of the contribution he made in getting Great Britain’s 4x200m freestyle team into the final that they won minutes after Wiffen’s triumph.
And, then, yesterday the focus turned to the rowing regatta where Hannah Scott, from Coleraine, dug deep and, alongside her three GB colleagues, timed it to perfection to clinch a gold medal in the quadruple sculls.
The infectious smile on her face as she had the medal draped around her neck was a joy to witness - it’s what it’s all about.
Later in the afternoon, we saw Irish boxers take centre stage at the North Paris Arena, seeking to continue a fine tradition of success from these parts.
Jude Gallagher, from Newtownstewart, had a real fight on his hands against a man who won a silver medal at Tokyo just three years ago. The boxer dubbed the ‘Tyrone Tornado’ showed no fear against Filipino Carlo Paalam, but ultimately just came up short against a brilliant opponent.
Naturally disappointing but, nevertheless, Hannah Scott’s gong might not be the end of our gold rush at these Games.
Wiffen also has the 1,500m, his “favourite event”, to come as well as the 10km open-water swim. Moreover, we have the likes of Ciara Mageean, Philip Doyle and Rhys McClenaghan to cheer on as well as a certain Rory McIlroy who will undoubtedly have designs on joining the medal party.
The success across a range of sports has produced a wonderful feel-good factor and put smiles on many faces. These young people, who have dedicated their lives to their sports, putting in countless hours of training and preparation, day and night, for their moments in the spotlight, deserve all the plaudits they receive.
We can and should be proud of them all for they represent the best of us.
