‘I leaned over the edge to let anyone see and touch the medal that Northern Ireland had brought away from the Olympics. It wasn’t mine, it was ours.’
In September 1972, after years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication, Mary Peters won the gold medal for the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics. Her skill as an athlete could not be disputed, yet this was to mark only the beginning of her story.
A beloved figure in her adopted home of Northern Ireland, Mary has spent decades promoting and encouraging its young sportspeople. From establishing its first high standard synthetic athletic track, to founding the Mary Peters Sports Trust, she has been a stalwart ambassador for sport and for Northern Ireland itself, and has received several royal honours in recognition of her services to sport and the community. With over 60 photographs set alongside lively commentary and insight into contemporary events, this is the definitive account of a truly remarkable woman: ‘Our Mary’.
