Terry McHugh has become a footnote in Ireland's participation in this year's games. How can he be so wronged? Last weekend's A qualification standard in the javelin set at the Gateshead meeting has qualified McHugh for his fourth Summer Olympics at the age of 36.

He has also been to two Winter games in the bobsleigh event making him by far the most travelled Olympian in Irish history. No other athlete has represented Ireland at so many games.

Having struggled from the outset against ambivalence, drying-up funds and a certain disinterest from the public in what is a highly technical event, McHugh has become one of the principal athletes in Irish sport, outside of GAA, to have lived out his career at the top in a completely amateur way.

The Olympic games for 99 per cent of the Irish athletes is about getting there and competing well. McHugh has achieved this six times.