Barry McDonald competed in the gymnastics at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, becoming the first gymnast ever to represent Ireland in Olympic competition.

From Dublin and introduced to gymnastics at the Grange Gym Club under coach Michael Scott, McDonald was immediately successful as a youngster, winning the London Open title at the age of fourteen.

As a student at Terenure College he won Irish titles at all levels. His elevation to international class came through an Olympic Solidarity initiative: leading American gymnastics coach C.J. Johnson travelled to Ireland to impart his expertise, identified McDonald’s potential – recognising his strength and coordination as hallmarks of an international-standard gymnast – and organised a gymnastics scholarship for him at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where Johnson also acted as his coach.

In the USA he won an NCAA title on the parallel bars.