Ciaran Ward competed in the men’s half-lightweight (-65kg) judo at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, winning his opening bout against Matti Korhonen of Finland before losing on a split decision to Stefan Ćuk of Slovenia. From a Belfast family steeped in GAA tradition, Ward became involved in judo as a six-year-old when his father Jimmy explained that judo was a mixture of kung fu, karate and boxing – an irresistible combination at a time when Bruce Lee was one of the great heroes of popular culture.

He joined the Yamakwai Judo Club. He later moved to Wolverhampton and became a full-time judoka as an eighteen-year-old, before enrolling at Manchester University to pursue a degree course.

He qualified for Barcelona by winning bronze at the Austrian championships. The OCI supported Ward’s preparation with a special grant of £2,000.