Róisín Smyth competed in the women’s 3,000 metres at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, finishing ninth in her heat in 9:01.69 – eliminated in a heat won by the great Mary Decker of the USA.

A member of the Spartan Athletic Club in Derry, Smyth was only the second track and field athlete from Derry to compete in an Olympic Games.

A spectacular period of running from November 1983 to July 1984 secured her place in Los Angeles, including a second-place finish in the 3,000 metres at the Cork City Sports in 8:57.94 – inside the Olympic qualifying standard.

Her elevation to Olympic status came quickly – at this stage of her career she had less than twelve months of serious involvement in the sport. The step up in class from club athlete to Olympic competitor proved too much, and her ninth place in a heat won by Decker was not unexpected given her level of experience.