Eamonn Coughlan represented Ireland at the 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow, and 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Coughlan finished 4th in both the 1,500m at Montreal 1976 and the 5,000m at Moscow 1980.

Born in Drimnagh, Dublin, he first gained international recognition while competing for Villanova University in the United States. Nicknamed the “Chairman of the Boards” for his success in indoor racing, he won the 5,000 metres gold medal at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki and set a world record for the indoor mile in 1981.  Following his retirement, he became the first man over 40 to run a sub-four minute mile.