O'Sullivan 'so proud' of Team Ireland

12:39, 12 Aug 2012

Chef d'equipe Sonia O'Sullivan has paid tribute Team Ireland's medal haul at the London Olympics.

"It's been absolutely fantastic to be going home with five medals," she said.

"I refused to predict any medals before we came here because it's not fair to thwe atheltes to be going predicting medals because they have to go out there and match your predictions, so I figure let's go out there and take part and let their actions do the talking and we'll come home with as many as we can, whatever we can achieve.

"It's a strange mix of medals, having the bronze from Cian, he was so close to silver.

"Having a silver from John Joe, he had the chance at gold. I compare everything to a race and boxing is nothing like a race, it's a whole mix of emotions coming in here tonight as you've won a silver medal and you fight for a gold and you lose … it's a strange feeling.

"We've got a medal and a medal is a medal no matter what colour it is, but when you're so close to a gold there's a slight tinge of disappointment.

"But I'm so proud of everybody, I think they all went out there and did their best.

I'm really looking forward to going home on Monday and bringing the medals back to Ireland."

When asked if she would consider taking the job again, the former Olympic silver medallist said she would welcome the oppurtunity.

"People asked me that question before I even started here in London a couple of weeks ago," she said.

"I was a bit unsure, I was still a bit unsure for the first week, but I think I've grown to love it and I think I can do a better job now that I've become a part of the team in so many different sports.

"Initially you know your own sport and you have to learn all the others and now I think I've learned a lot, and I think I can have a greater impact in four years' time."