Noel Carroll was one of Europe’s leading 800 metres specialists of the 1960s, ranking fourth in the world in the event in 1963, winning the AAA title, setting a European 880y record, and as part of a Villanova quartet setting a world 4 x 880 yards record in 1964.

He made his Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games, competing in the men’s 800 metres.

From Annagassan, Co. Louth, Carroll left school at thirteen and worked as a farm labourer and builder’s labourer before joining the Irish Army as a private in 1959, seeking the opportunities army life offered to develop as an athlete. Stationed at the Ordnance Survey department in the Phoenix Park, he joined the Civil Service Athletic Club where he was coached by Frank Duffy throughout his career.

In 1961 he fulfilled a boyhood ambition by becoming the fifth Irish scholarship recruit to Villanova University under the legendary Jumbo Elliott, where he twice won the outstanding athlete award at the Penn Relays (1964-65). He won his first AAA title in 1963, the year he ranked fourth in the world.

He went on to compete at the Mexico City 1968 Olympics, where he was a potential finalist in the 800m until altitude intervened.

Despite leaving school aged 13, Carroll went on to become a broadcaster, journalist, and eventually the chief executive at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

He was one of the founders of the Dublin Marathon and took part in its inaugural running in 1980.

He died of a heart attack aged 56 on 23 October 1998.