Olympian Ronnie Delany has been remembered as a man of deep faith who possessed a remarkable gift for running, as sporting figures, family and friends gathered in Dublin for his funeral.
The former Olympic 1500m gold medallist died last Wednesday at the age of 91.
His son, Ronnie Jr, paid a moving tribute, describing how his father lived an extraordinary life. At just 21, he competed against the world’s best and triumphed at the Melbourne Olympics.
“He always raced to win and hated to lose,” Ronnie Jr said. “From an early age, he knew he had a special gift for running, and his deep faith was central to everything he did.”
He told mourners that his father won a second gold medal the day he met the love of his life, Joan, his wife of 64 years, whom he adored.
Items placed on the coffin as symbols of Ronnie Delany’s life included a tennis racket, a silver baton, and a copy of his book ‘Going the Distance’. A single red rose was also laid there in honour of his wife Joan, who was watching the service from her hospital bed.
Fr Philip Bradley told the congregation that Mr Delany had known countless people and lived an incredible life. He recalled how, immediately after winning Olympic gold, the young athlete dropped to his knees in prayer.
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