Cathal O’Grady competed in the men’s heavyweight boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games as the youngest member of the Irish boxing team and the youngest boxer in the entire heavyweight division. From Enfield, Co. Meath, O’Grady established an early 6-3 lead in his opening contest against New Zealand’s Garth da Silva before being staggered by two heavy left hooks.

The referee stopped the bout, in what was described as ‘mildly controversial’ as the second punch was delivered after an instruction to break had been given. O’Grady had made a significant personal sacrifice to be in his best possible shape for the contest – he chose not to participate in the Opening Ceremony, skipping the traffic congestion, dehydration and long hours of standing that the experience involved, in order to preserve his energy and readiness.