Paris 2024: Irish dream team bow out on a high

One of Ireland's greatest sporting partnerships have bowed out at the top, with Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal once again delivering when it matters most.

The decorated duo have little space on the shelves for silverware collected since joining forces a decade ago, going on to become a formidable force in Para-cycling as well as elevating the profile of track cycling in Ireland.

Their last two Paralympic Games have yielded three gold and two silver medals. You can add five world championship road titles and a bronze at last year’s Worlds into the mix.

Their story has been one of unbridled success, yet their 2024 swansong looked in major doubt last May.

Dunlevy, who had never broken a bone in her career, shattered her collarbone at a World Cup road event in Italy.

The 42-year-old had no concerns over her participation in a fourth Games, but just how competitive they could be was a moot point.

With Great Britain setting sights on taking all three podium positions, the challenge in making a gold final (top two) or bronze final (third and fourth) was not insignificant.

What they delivered, in their own words, was the greatest ride of their career. Despite falling short of their PB, in more testing conditions they delivered the most technically assured performance

Having led the final for more than half the race at the National Velodrom, the pair were reeled in Britain's Sophie Unwin and her pilot Jenny Holl. In the greater scheme of things, it's a silver arguably as satisfying as any gold.

"When you're so close to gold, you're slightly disappointed you didn't get it, but we're absolutely ecstatic with silver," McCrystal said.

One more climb to the podium for para cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Eve McCrystal, two