Donnacha O'Dea was the dominant figure in Irish swimming in the 1960s, the first Irish swimmer to break the 60-second barrier for the 100 metres freestyle when he won the national title in 59.9 seconds in Belfast in 1965, and competed at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games where he was the veteran of the four-strong Irish swimming team.
The son of the renowned actors Denis O'Dea and Siobhán McKenna, his development as a swimmer was entirely self-directed. His parents' theatrical careers introduced him to swimming in New York at the age of seven, where he received lessons in the crawl stroke during their Broadway season in 1956.
In Dublin he competed at Synge Street CBS's school gala where a teacher recruited him to the Colmcille Club. John Conway at Tara Street Baths was the closest he came to a formal coach. He trained alone at Crystal Palace in London and gained access to the Guinness Baths in Dublin through a variety of aliases - in later years gaining official permission for early-morning access. His Mexico preparation was affected by an ankle injury that he carried to the Games. At the time of his selection he held 25 freestyle, 10 butterfly and 5 individual medley senior national titles. He also competed in the relay events.
Swimming
