BANGOR Swimming Club got to toast one of their own on the greatest stage of all on Tuesday evening when Jack McMillan struck Olympic gold in Paris for his part in Team GB’s victorious 4x200m freestyle relay squad.
Less than two hours after Magheralin marvel Daniel Wiffen became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win individual gold at a summer Games since Lady Mary Peters in 1972, McMillan joined him in the history books to add to an unforgettable night for Northern Ireland in the pool.
McMillan’s former club in Bangor already have plans to throw a homecoming party for the 24 year-old, whose Olympic debut came under the Team Ireland banner at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Although the Belfast man did not take part in the final, both he and Englishman Kieran Bird earned medals through their participation in the morning heats. The same quartet that won gold in Tokyo three years ago – Matt Richards, James Guy, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott – were back together for the final in the La Defense Arena and they duly delivered to retain their title.
GB had a slender lead going into the final leg but Scott, a cruel fourth in the individual event 24 hours earlier, brought the team home to win by 1.35 seconds.
Local pride at the Games is unlikely to stop here either, with one of Bangor’s Grace Davison and her Ards Swimming Club teammate Victoria Catterson set to feature in the Irish 4x100m Freestyle relay final on Sunday, after superstar gymnast Rhys McClenaghan looks to land Pommel Horse gold on Saturday afternoon.
