'We'll always have Paris' - Olympic memories one year on

Northern Ireland’s six Olympic medallists from Paris 2024

"We'll always have Paris."

The iconic line that Humphrey Bogart's character Rick tells Ingrid Bergman's Ilsa in 'Casablanca' is one of the most famous quotes in movie history

Spoken of a love affair in the French capital, the memories of which remain no matter what the future holds.

After the success at the Olympics, it's also how I still feel one year on from the Paris Games.

Twelve months later, those six glorious days - arguably the greatest week in Northern Ireland's sporting history - when there were four gold medals, a silver and two bronzes to celebrate forged an indelible sporting love affair with the city.

Prior, it had been 36 years since an athlete from Northern Ireland had won an Olympic gold medal - those coming when Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood were part of the triumphant GB&NI Hockey team at Seoul 1988.

Even longer was the 52-year wait since the only female Olympic champion from these shores, Lady Mary Peters who topped the podium after the pentathlon in Munich 1972.

All of a sudden in Paris - three golds came in the space of 16 hours.

Swimmers Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan took gold in the pool for Team Ireland and Team GB&NI respectively before the next day rower Hannah Scott was a part of Team GB's dramatic quadruple sculls' success.

While he had to wait a little longer for his moment, three days later Rhys McClenaghan's dominant showing on the pommel horse completed the golden set.

In addition, rower Rebecca Shorten won silver for Team GB&NI, Philip Doyle took bronze for Team Ireland as did Wiffen who, with his gold already secured, returned home with two medals.

Paris achievements should not be forgotten

After the Games finished I wrote: "There are so many factors that go into the making of an Olympic champion from funding to facilities, to the support of family and friends, as well as great coaching.

"Ultimately it comes down to the individual. Their journey, the highs and the lows, and how they deal with that goes further than anything else to making them the athlete that becomes the Olympic gold medallist.

"Whether it's coming from behind in the final length of an 800m swim to win gold, conquering the jeopardy of the pommel horse by producing a world class performance, or winning a rowing race with the very final stroke, Northern Ireland's athletes have shown they are the best in the world."

A year down the track and all of the above remains true.

What is important 12 months later is that their achievements in Paris not be forgotten and that they continue to serve as an inspiration, not only to other elite athletes, but to thousands of kids who each week pack out the gymnastics clubs, swimming pools, athletics tracks, rowing clubs and other sporting venues across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Kids need heroes to look up to. Better still if they come from Coleraine or Magheralin, Newtownards, Belfast or Banbridge.

Rhys McClenaghan has not competed since Paris

A quarter of a century ago at Sydney 2000 - the first Olympics I reported on - there were only seven athletes from Northern Ireland.

In Paris there were a record 37.

The opportunities are there to pursue Olympic dreams but it's a long, hard road to tread.

While five of the six medallists from Paris have committed to the LA Olympics in three years time, 2025 has shown the effort, perseverance and resilience needed to win a medal can have lingering consequences.

McClenaghan has just had shoulder surgery, hasn't competed since Paris, and won't until next year.

Shorten is the only medallist not to say yes to Los Angeles after surgery on both hips at the start of this year. She is slowly rehabbing but hasn't made a decision on her future.

Doyle has competed once at a rowing World Cup while Scott, because of illness, has yet to make her return to the GB team. Both are still hoping to compete at the World Championships in September.

Wiffen was forced to withdraw from the recent World Swimming Championships having suffered from appendicitis in the build up.

Hannah Scott hopes to return for the World Championships in September

Olympic medallists are not immune from lows on their journey but how these champions deal with the setbacks moving forward will also be an example to those who look to emulate them.

McMillan, meanwhile, has continued his success adding a world title to his Olympic gold in the 200m freestyle relay but this year he moved on from the heats to swim in the final in Singapore.

The organising committee of the Los Angeles Games recently celebrated three years to go until the opening ceremony at the iconic LA Coliseum by releasing a first draft of the competition schedule.

It's never too early to begin planning or to start dreaming of what could happen in the shadow of the Hollywood sign.

The script has already flipped as the Paris medallists, and new hopefuls, look to the future.

Still, though, the memories of a year ago remain - "We'll always have Paris."