We had the pleasure of being joined by former Olympic Gold Medalist Ronnie Delany on Off The Ball today.
The former 1,500 metre spoke to Ger about a range of topics including a Sports Illustrated interview in 1959, dealing with celebrity and challengers after his 1956 Olympic achievement.
"The celebrity I had no difficulty handling because I'm not egotistical. What was difficult was every time I stepped on the track I was the Olympic champion, I was the target and then the expectation was that you won all the time. It was fortuitous that I did that in America," said Delany, who turned 79 in March.
"If one had regrets - and I don't have many - it's that my indoor career was not covered in Ireland because of the economics. The media wasn't at the phase it's at today. So no Irish journalist ever went over to see me run in Madison Square garden, breaking world records. So that was supplied by AP, United Press or something and would merit two or three column inches in the national press."
He also spoke about the challenge of studying and maintaining his athletics career during his time in the United States in the '50s and '60s, and the way in which "materialism killed indoor running."
He also spoke about the great bond between the great athletes of his era including the man who broke the four minute mile landmark, Roger Bannister.
The Arklow born athletics legend also recalled the circumstances of that 1956 Olympic final.
Delany is currently promoting National Lung Health Week which runs from September 22nd to 29th, a campaign close to his heart.
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