Kieran Behan represented Ireland in artistic gymnastics at two Olympic Games – London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Born in Hertfordshire to Irish parents – his father Phil from Dublin, his mother Bernie from Newbliss, Co. Monaghan – he showed exceptional talent for gymnastics from an early age. At ten years old a benign tumour was discovered in his leg and complications arising from the surgery to remove it left him in a wheelchair, with doctors telling him he would never walk again. He defied that prognosis, returning to training 15 months later, only to suffer a freak training accident on his 12th birthday that caused brain damage, requiring another lengthy rehabilitation. He returned to gymnastics again. He then ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in both knees in separate incidents, requiring further surgeries.

Receiving no funding from the Irish Sports Council or Gymnastics Ireland, he financed his international campaign entirely himself, with friends and family raising money through bake sales and community events. He became the 2011 World Cup floor exercise champion and qualified for London 2012 at the Olympic test event at the North Greenwich Arena in January 2012, jumping around the room in tears when he found out. At London he competed in the qualification round despite having broken a metatarsal in his foot a month before the Games, but did not advance to any finals.

He subsequently underwent further knee surgery. At Rio 2016 he dislocated his knee on his very first tumbling pass but completed his floor routine regardless – his final ever competitive performance. After retiring he became Head Junior National Coach of Austria.