OTB AM caught up with Paul Brady, Ireland's five-time world champion in handball, about a brilliant sporting career; one of which the country can be proud.
Team Ireland are going to Minnesota on August 6 for the World Handball Championships - Paul will be going for his sixth title. With five to his name, Paul let us into his motivation to be considered the best that the sport has seen.
"I was trying to get the record. I just wanted to retire, and I wanted to go out at the top," said Paul.
"The record is eleven [US national titles] and I had won ten. I've lost the last two. It's the US nationals titles that I predominantly want to win, and to keep my world titles is an added bonus.
Paul won his first world Open Singles title in the 2003 World Championships in Dublin, becoming the first Irish player to win the title for Ireland. He has been explicit in his desire to be the best that has ever played the sport; something unusual in a country where humility is valued above most other traits.
"I had been around for a while - I was 35 at that time when that was said. That was my motivation, to be honest.
"A few years prior to that, you start to set intangible goals - what does it mean to be the greatest? It is to try and win as many titles as I can while I'm playing.
"That is the goal, that was the goal and that has been the goal for a long time."
There is a burgeoning rivalry with Cork's Killian Carroll, which has been seen as something of the changing of the guard with Paul. But he feels reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
"I went back to a tournament a few months later, and I beat him in New York. I thought I'd set it back the way it was. But last year, he just played great in the final and he beat me. That was more of a changing of the guard; that's the script that people are reading off now... but it's not one I choose to read off."
Brady's approach to the game has been credited as changing the way the sport is played, and he was clear that this in later life has been putting more emphasis on diet and recovery.
"I'm really looking to going there and testing myself.
"The biggest battle is trying to overcome yourself and your own thoughts. That in itself is enjoyable. It is tough, but enjoyable."
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