In 100 years of Ireland at the Olympics, this has been the greatest week

They think differently.

The days when Irish athletes went to the Olympics and felt inferior, or just privileged to be there, or satisfied with gallant failure or making memories have been rooted out and renounced.

There is no tolerance in the system for deferential mediocrity. Humility is a good look after you win. Otherwise, it’s as useful as your appendix.

After Rhys McClenaghan reached the final of the pommel horse with the highest qualifying score last Saturday night he talked about “upgrading” his performance.

Daniel Wiffen anointed himself as “one of the greats” as soon as his first Olympic gold medal rested on his chest. That thought didn’t just occur to him. McClenaghan and Wiffen are two of the most extravagantly gifted athletes to ever wear an Irish vest. They can say what they like.

At their first Olympics Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney came off the water after their heavyweight pairs semi-final and talked openly about chasing a gold medal. It didn’t come across as cockiness or forced bravado; that thought had entered their shared existence long before now.

There was a time when Irish athletes, of all stripes, hid their dreams for fear of ridicule. That fear was the sire of failure. It didn’t happen for them on Friday. Immediately they spoke about LA in 2028. Same ambition.

Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle won bronze and in conversation an hour later Doyle...
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