Derek McCleane competed in the men’s 800 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, advancing through the opening round before finishing seventh in his second-round heat and being eliminated.

The small seven-strong Irish athletics team endured a difficult Games in Tokyo and faced heavy criticism from team officials on their return, but McCleane was one of only two athletes – alongside Maeve Kyle – to survive their opening heat and reach the semi-final stage, a achievement that saw him exempted from the criticism levelled at his teammates.

A member of Crusaders Athletic Club, McCleane passed away in October 2024.