Ronnie Delany was a man of faith with a gift for running

Olympian Ronnie Delany was remembered as a man of great faith with a gift for running, as figures from the world of sport joined family and friends at his funeral in Dublin.

The former Olympic 1500m gold medal winner died last Wednesday at the age of 91.

His son, Ronnie Jr, paid tribute to his father saying he lived an incredible life, competing and winning against the best in the world at the Melbourne Olympics, aged 21.

He said his father always raced to win and hated to lose.

He also described him as a man of great faith and that he knew that he had a gift for running from an early age.

Ronnie Jr also said his father was "ridiculously strong", with "hands like shovels" who taught about the important of a firm handshake.

He added that his father had a great sense of humour and was very generous.

He also said that Ronnie Sr had won a second gold medal when he met his wife of 64 years, Joan, whom, mourners, were told, he adored.

Among the items offered as a symbol Mr Delany's life were a tennis racket, a silver baton, and a copy of his book Going the Distance.

A red rose was also placed on his coffin for his wife who, mourners were told, was watching from hospital.

Fr Philip Bradley told mourners that Mr Delany had known so many people and had led an incredible life.

He also said he was a man of faith, saying he had dropped to his knees to say a prayer after he won the Olympic gold.

Among the mourners were Michael Carruth, Eamonn Coghlan and former Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey.

President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin are both represented by their aides de camp.

The funeral mass took place at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church in Foxrock in Dublin.

Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam was also among the mourners.

Ronnie Delany topped the podium in Melbourne in 1956 and was a 1500m finalist again four years later in Rome.

He took bronze in the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm and was an 800m gold medallist at the World University Games in Sofia in 1961.

Injuries played a part in Mr Delany hanging up his spikes later that year at the age of just 26, with the news coming on the same day he announced his engagement to his future wife, Joan.

Having moved to Sandymount in Dublin at the age of six, he later studied commerce at Villanova University, where he was tutored by well-known track coach Jumbo Elliott.

His post-athletics career included stints at Aer Lingus and B&I Line, while he later set up a sports marketing and consultancy business.

Mr Delany was granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2006.

A statue of the Olympian stands in Delany Park, Arklow, which the former athlete himself officially opened in 2019.

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