ANNALISE MURPHY’S FAMILY were overjoyed after the Dubliner claimed Ireland’s first Olympics medal in sailing since David Wilkins and James Wilkinson took silver in the 1980 Games in Moscow.
“This has been the longest week ever and it’s so good,” brother Finn said, speaking to The42.
“I think she’s going to wish she got the gold, but it’s still so good to get a silver and Annalise is still only 26 and it’s only her second Olympics, so she’s going to be happy with that.
“With the shortened course you just don’t know what happens there, but everything worked out for Annalise and she just went really quick.”
Sister Claudine was similarly jubilant and relieved in equal measure.
“It was just such a nerve-racking race. You can hear people going ‘oh she’s in gold…’
“The wind is so fickle out there and she did really well.
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“11 races and one being postponed as well, it’s just been so tense here.
“It’s been great having our whole family, we’ve really held each other up.
“If anyone’s had any meltdowns, someone else picks them up and vice versa. That makes all the difference.
“It’s difficult to describe, I’ve been so calm up until today and now I’m just speechless.”
Murphy’s lack of form going into the Olympics coupled with the light winds and conditions that were generally deemed to put her at a considerable disadvantage meant she was considered a dark horse at best for a medal in the build up to Rio 2016.
And Claudine admitted the past few months hadn’t always been easy.
“She’s worked so hard but she wasn’t getting the results for it and you start to wonder and you go ‘maybe we don’t deserve anything in life’.
“It’s just great to arrive out here and get what is basically the cherry on the cake.”
Her mother Cathy also expressed relief, particularly after a heartbreaking finish saw her just miss out on a medal at the London Olympics four years ago.
“I would have been happy if she got a bronze medal, but a silver medal is just awesome
“I was just terrified this morning of something going wrong. I think we all were terrified of London.
“We said we’d have a party whatever happened, but I think it might be a fairly massive party tonight.
“I can’t believe it. Winning a medal is just so impossible. To keep yourself together is just so tough… I think she was going to take that medal home if it killed her.”
'This has been the longest week ever!' Annalise Murphy's family overjoyed at Olympics success
ANNALISE MURPHY’S FAMILY were overjoyed after the Dubliner claimed Ireland’s first Olympics medal in sailing since David Wilkins and James Wilkinson took silver in the 1980 Games in Moscow.
“This has been the longest week ever and it’s so good,” brother Finn said, speaking to The42.
“I think she’s going to wish she got the gold, but it’s still so good to get a silver and Annalise is still only 26 and it’s only her second Olympics, so she’s going to be happy with that.
“With the shortened course you just don’t know what happens there, but everything worked out for Annalise and she just went really quick.”
Sister Claudine was similarly jubilant and relieved in equal measure.
“The wind is so fickle out there and she did really well.
“11 races and one being postponed as well, it’s just been so tense here.
“It’s been great having our whole family, we’ve really held each other up.
“It’s difficult to describe, I’ve been so calm up until today and now I’m just speechless.”
Murphy’s lack of form going into the Olympics coupled with the light winds and conditions that were generally deemed to put her at a considerable disadvantage meant she was considered a dark horse at best for a medal in the build up to Rio 2016.
And Claudine admitted the past few months hadn’t always been easy.
“It’s just great to arrive out here and get what is basically the cherry on the cake.”
Her mother Cathy also expressed relief, particularly after a heartbreaking finish saw her just miss out on a medal at the London Olympics four years ago.
“I would have been happy if she got a bronze medal, but a silver medal is just awesome
“I was just terrified this morning of something going wrong. I think we all were terrified of London.
“I can’t believe it. Winning a medal is just so impossible. To keep yourself together is just so tough… I think she was going to take that medal home if it killed her.”
Additional reporting by Sinead O’Carrroll in Rio
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