Terry McHugh
Athletics,Bobsleigh & Skeleton
BIOGRAPHY
Terry McHugh is one of Ireland’s most remarkable Olympic athletes, known for competing in a record six Olympic Games across both the Summer and Winter Games, a unique achievement in Irish sport.
Born in Clonmel and raised in Meath, McHugh became a dominant javelin thrower, winning 21 consecutive national titles and setting an enduring Irish record of 82.75 m. He represented Ireland in javelin at four Summer Olympics: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
In addition to his summer career, McHugh was a pioneer of Irish bobsleigh, competing at the 1992 Albertville and 1998 Nagano Winter Games. In 1992 he made history by participating in both a Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year, a feat possible only before the calendar change.
After retiring, he moved to Switzerland where he has coached javelin and discus and managed international athletics events.
OTHER SNOWSPORTS ATHLETES
SNOWSPORTS NEWS
WINTER OLYMPICS DEBUTANT BEN LYNCH REFLECTS ON HIS HISTORIC HALFPIPE PERFORMANCE
As he said himself it was as if the stars aligned under the Friday night lights in Livigno when Ben Lynch became the first Irish skier ever to make an Olympic final (Halfpipe) taking 8th place overall; his lucky number! Overcoming the natural nerves of his first Olympic run (which Lynch landed safely), meant [...]
Ireland’s Winter Olympians Celebrated at Homecoming Ceremony
Ireland’s four Olympians from the Milano Cortina Games have been formally welcomed home with a reception in Dublin city centre. Freestyle skier Ben Lynch, alpine skiers Cormac Comerford and Anabelle Zurbay, and cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgård were recognised for their performances and their contribution to Team Ireland’s Winter Olympic campaign at the Department of [...]
BEN LYNCH IS NAMED AS TEAM IRELAND FLAGBEARER
The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce that Ben Lynch, Irish freestyle skier, will serve as Team Ireland’s flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Verona tonight. Lynch capped off a standout Games for Ireland with a historic performance that saw him become the first Irish [...]
MALONEY WESTGÅRD SHOWS GRIT IN GRUELLING 50KM FINALE
Day Fifteen – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Thomas Maloney Westgård rounded out Team Ireland’s performance at the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina 2026, finishing 23rd in a brutally competitive race in Predazzo, competing in the Cross-Country Men’s 50km Mass Classic. Norway dominated what is one of the most prestigious events in Cross-Country [...]
BEN LYNCH EIGHTH IN OLYMPIC FINAL
Day Fourteen Finals – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 History maker Ben Lynch has finished a brilliant eighth place in the Finals of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno tonight, posting an impressive score of 75.00 in the final run of the event. Lynch’s result marks [...]
BEN LYNCH QUALIFIES FOR OLYMPIC FINAL
Day Fourteen – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 In sensational style, Team Ireland’s Ben Lynch qualified for the Olympic Final of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe, finishing 11th in the qualifiers with a top score and personal best of 75.75. The top twelve qualifiers from today’s qualifying two rounds progress to the Olympic Final [...]