TRIBUTES have been paid to Maeve Kyle, Ireland's first female track and field Olympian, who has passed away at the age of 96.
As well as competing at three Olympic Games, Kyle was also an accomplished hockey player, representing Ireland more than 50 times.
"We have lost a legend of Irish Olympic Sport who rose to the top despite huge challenges in 1950s Ireland," said Lochlann Walsh, President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
"She was an inspiration to us all. May she rest in peace."
Athlete and coach
Kyle was born in Co. Kilkenny in October 1928 and educated in Dublin at Alexandra College and Trinity College.
A formidable multi-sport athlete, she earned 58 hockey caps for Ireland and was named in the World All Star team in 1953 and 1959.
She also competed in tennis, swimming, sailing and cricket but became a trailblazer with her success on the track.
Kyle competed at three consecutive Olympic Games at a time when women had to overcome huge prejudice and when opportunities in international athletics were extremely limited.
She represented Ireland in the 100m and 200m sprints in Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960 and reached the semi-finals of both the 400m and 800m in Tokyo 1964.
She went on to win a bronze medal in the 400m at the 1966 European Indoor Championships in Dortmund.
A renowned coach, Kyle set up the Ballymena & Antrim Athletics Club and was involved in a fourth Olympic Games when she served as a coach to the Irish track and field team at Sydney 2000.
In 2006, Kyle was awarded the European Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award and a year later, she and her husband Sean were bestowed the same honour by Athletics Ireland.
She also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster and in 2008 was appointed an OBE for her services to sport.
'More than a legend'
"Our thoughts today are with Maeve's extended family, friends," said Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
"Her achievements in life gave inspiration to so many Irish women who followed in her footsteps as Olympians."
A statement from Athletics Ireland said: "Maeve Kyle was more than a legend; she was a torchbearer who lit the path for those who followed.
"Her legacy lives on in the athletes she inspired and the standards she set."
Meanwhile, the Ballymena & Antrim Athletics Club said Kyle 'nurtured and inspired many young athletes' at the club she founded with her husband in 1955.
“Even in her later years however you would still find Maeve at the high jump come hail, rain or snow," added a statement.
"As a former track athlete Maeve turned her coaching attention to the field and became arguably the best high jump coach in Ireland, producing Commonwealth and European internationals.
"Maeve could recognise talent, but she always found time for all athletes, as long as you were prepared to listen!
"Maeve and Sean will always be the heart of Ballymena & Antrim AC."
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