One year on, the landscape looks very different. Such is the way in sport’s most elite echelon, where any difficulties – injuries, illnesses, a slight drop in commitment or just plain old back luck – become amplified, magnified, turning Olympic medallists into relative also-rans against the world’s best. So it’s been this year, for many of Ireland’s top performers at the Paris Olympics. While 2024 proved unforgettable, 2025 has for some been a year to forget – at least in performance terms.