Derry Paralympian Jason Smyth has spoken of overcoming the challenges he faced in performing to win RTÉ's Dancing With the Stars.
The sprinter, who has won six gold medals for Ireland at the Paralympics, was crowned winner of the show on Sunday alongside dancing partner Karen Byrne.
Smyth, who is legally blind, has told the BBC following his victory that despite his confidence on the running track, he faced doubts throughout his time competing against fellow celebrities, including the runners-up, broadcaster Laura Fox, Wild Youth singer David Whelan and Belfast drag artist Blu Hydrangea.
He said that despite his doubts, “it all paid off in the end”.
“The challenges I found were more around the performing and showing and expressing emotions,” he told BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show on Monday.
Smyth - the third fastest 100m sprinter in Irish history - won his first two Paralympic gold medals in the 2008 games in Beijing, and repeated his 100m and 200m gold success in London four years later.
He also won 100m gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and again in Tokyo in 2021.
His sporting record for Ireland also includes eight World Championship and six European Championship gold medals.
The 36-year-old announced his retirement from athletics last year.
“You think of sport -often it’s about hiding emotions and giving nothing away, whereas this felt like a complete step outside of my comfort zone,” he said.
“It took me weeks to let go and start to show some of those emotions.”
He added: “It was incredible to win and, obviously, my dance partner Karen was an incredible part of that.”
