What happens when a swimmer refuses to settle and a mentor refuses to mail it in? We bring together Olympian Darragh Greene and business leader Pádraic O’Kane to explore how elite performance really works—on the stopwatch, on the balance sheet, and over a career.
Dara traces his path from a sport‑mad Longford upbringing, through a broken leg that sent him back to the pool, to sub‑60 history in the 100m breaststroke. He lays out the choices behind the results: switching programmes when the ceiling closes in, using lactate‑guided training to personalise pace, and building a four‑year Olympic plan down to daily targets.
Then he tells the story of the audacious two‑week trial that became six months inside Australia’s toughest squads—higher volume, world‑class teammates, and the pressure that sharpened him for Paris and beyond.
Pádraic adds the view from business and mentorship. He heard Darragh speak at a Longford rugby lunch and turned admiration into action—creating a support plan that blends funding with flexible work, real activation, and a roadmap for life after LA 2028.
We explore the gap between public funding and actual needs, and why private partners can make a difference when costs exceed stipends. This is not a quick logo deal. It’s patient mentorship, goal setting, and honest conversations about what comes next: entrepreneurship, events, or a role shaped by the water.
If you care about Irish sport, performance, and what it takes to sustain both, this conversation offers a clear blueprint—ask bold questions, choose the right environment, and back talent early in the cycle. Subscribe, share with a friend who mentors or manages athletes, and tell us: what’s one practical way the private sector can support an athlete in your county?
Image Credit: Sport for Business
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Read our Sport for Business Coverage of Swimming
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