Michael Ryan competed in the men’s coxed four at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games alongside Jim Muldoon, Willie Ryan, Christy O’Brien and cox Liam Redmond, finishing 7th overall after winning the little final – a performance achieved against the backdrop of extraordinary personal sacrifice. A member of An Garda Síochána and of the Garda Síochána Boat Club (GSBC), Ryan and his crewmates

Their 7th place overall was achieved despite catching three crabs in the semi-final that cost them a final place – the third crab, within 100 metres of the finish when the crew held a length’s lead over the Germans, effectively handing the vital third qualifying position to Germany.