While Team Ireland performed brilliantly at this summer's Olympics, it was not only the Irish team that boasted athletes from this part of the world.
Sinead Diver is probably the most high profile example of an Irish athlete representing another country at the games, with the Mayo woman part of the Australian contingent in Paris.
The 47-year old has been running in the colours of Australia for a decade, including at the Tokyo Olympics. While she would finish in the top ten of the women's marathon event on that occasion, she had a much less enjoyable experience this time around.
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Mayo woman forced to withdraw from marathon at Olympics
Sinead Diver was part of the field for the women's marathon at the Olympics this morning, although her involvement in the race would turn out to be a short one.
She was clearly struggling right from the beginning of the race and would eventually withdraw just 1.5 kilometres into proceedings.
The women’s marathon is underway. Unfortunately Mayowoman Sinead Diver for Australia has had a few problems already and that’s a little cruel. pic.twitter.com/EE7siqbhHa
— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) August 11, 2024
It was unclear what the issue was at the time, although Athletics Australia would later confirm that while Diver was not injured coming into the event, she suffered 'bilateral cramping' that ultimately forced her to withdraw:
Sinead Diver withdrew from the marathon after experiencing bilateral cramping in both quadriceps at Paris 2024.
She is devastated and being supported by team officials and medical staff.
Despite managing Plantar fasciitis at times this year, there was no physical reason for Sinead to not compete today.
A native of Belmullet, Sinead Diver moved to Australia at the age of 25. She would only take up long distance running in her 30s, going on to qualify for the World Championships in 2014.
She initially hoped to represent Ireland on the international stage, although she would ultimately run for the Australian team after Athletics Ireland lowered their qualification time for those championships in 2014, making her ineligible to compete in green.
Diver has since gone on to establish herself as one of the best marathon runners in the world, breaking the Australian national record with a time of 2:21:34 in Valencia in 2022.
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