'At our best, we're hard to beat' - Irish relay coach David McCarthy aiming high ahead of Olympic games

As the Paris Olympics kick off today, anticipation is running high for the Irish 4x400 mixed and women's relay teams.

Following exceptional performances at the European Athletics Championships in Rome in June, expectations are seemingly at an all-time high for Irish athletes to produce long-awaited Olympic athletic track success, the likes of which we haven't seen in years.

A total of 23 Athletes have made their way to Paris for the highly-anticipated Olympic Games, with track and field events starting on the 1st August.

David McCarthy, the dedicated Kildare-based coach steering the formidable Irish relay squads says the public are right to keep expectations high. The former national men's relay runner said the team is prepared, and is as ready as can be to hit the track in Paris.

“We’ve been gearing up all year for this,” McCarthy said. “In fact, the last couple of years have been all about preparing for this moment. Everybody seems to be in a good place at the moment, so we're getting there in good shape. Hopefully, we just keep everybody that way, and it should go well.”

With a blend of meticulous preparation, support, and team bonding, David McCarthy and the Irish 4x400 relay team are poised to make their mark at the Paris Olympics.

The team's preparation is helped by the surge of public support they’ve received. Following a gold medal win for the mixed 4X400m relay team in Rome, the Championships received much attention from the Irish public, with hundreds of thousands of Irish viewers tuning in to watch the rest of the events.

Reflecting on the European Championships in Rome, McCarthy highlighted the significant impact of their success. “It was probably the most support we've ever had from home during a championship," McCarthy said.

"Winning the mixed relay on the first day really got the public imagination flowing. That support has carried on over the last couple of months and hopefully will continue through the Olympics. It's brilliant having that support and everybody on board.”

However, the relay coach acknowledged that with support comes expectation and pressure. “The group of athletes that we have thrive on that kind of pressure and expectation. That's when they perform their best. So we're not worried about that from that perspective.”

The Irish mixed and women's relay teams are heading to Paris with many of the nation's top sprinting talents, including Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley, Tom Barr, Sophie Becker and more. The huge Team Ireland lineup included a total of nine athletes for the women's relay, and ten were named for the mixed relay.

Managing a team with high expectations can be challenging, but McCarthy is well versed in the art of coaching, currently also working with his daughter's Leixlip United soccer team and Leixlip secondary school Coláiste Chiaráin's team, where he also works as a teacher.

McCarthy emphasized the importance of unity and understanding within the squad. “There are going to be disappointed people who don’t get to compete, but those people have worked immensely hard to get themselves into the position they’re in.

"They always get over that initial disappointment and then get on board with the team, pushing it forward. Reserves play a hugely important role in keeping the morale and motivation of the team high, and they are there to step in if we have any issues.”

Building a cohesive team from individual competitors requires effort and dedication, with relays being the only team event across track and field athletics.

“When we started working with this group a few years back, there was certainly some rivalry between the athletes. But we worked hard, and they worked really hard at creating a team bond. They now very much see each other as teammates and friends, which is brilliant.”

McCarthy’s experiences, both as a former European medal-winning athlete and a coach, shape his approach to coaching the teams. “Everything that I've done feeds into what I do now as a relay coach," McCarthy explained.

"All the experiences, good and bad, are shaping the kind of coach that I am, and that’s constantly developing. Just as the athletes strive to be their best, I’m trying to do the same, always learning and improving.”

The support network surrounding the athletes is crucial to their success, according to the coach.

“Families, personal coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, sponsors, and agents all play vital roles. They take care of everything else so the athletes can focus on being their best. The support we have now has certainly developed over the years, and it’s a huge positive for our performances.”

Reflecting on the broader impact of their achievements, McCarthy noted the impact support has had at a local level.

“I don’t think I've ever seen a local athletics club all watching a championship together before. To see that with Charlene’s club down in Newport was amazing. It’s something we usually see when Irish soccer teams go to a World Cup, but it was definitely something new for athletics.”

As the relay events are fast approaching, McCarthy outlined the team's final preparations for Paris.

“The team’s already out there, and I’ll join them soon. We have relay sessions planned, focusing on quality and sharpness as we get closer to the start line.

"The bulk of the work is done, and now it’s about fine-tuning. Our goal is to maximize our performance. We know that at our best, we’re hard to beat. So, we’ll control what we can, ensure each athlete gives their best, and see where that takes us.”