Doyle's ability to make most of second chance means he can return home a happy athlete
Paris 2024
He can always say he won a race at the Olympic Games even though he has no medal to show for it.
Cathal Doyle will have reason to look back on Paris 2024 with a mixture of delight and disappointment in about equal measure.
Burdened down by what he termed a mixture "nerves and inexperience" he didn't perform in the 1500m heats.
Normally that would be the end of the Games for the 26-year-old runner who is from Swords but lives in Bettystown.
However, in Paris there was a second chance in the repechage - and Doyle seized the day.
He put in a very strong display in his time in the second chance saloon demonstrating his tactical awareness and undoubted running ability to chalk up a victory and qualify for the semi-final in a time of 3: 34.92.
As a display in taking full advantage of a second chance it was top notch as far a Doyle was concerned who runs with Clonliffe Harriers.
Doyle then went on to finish 10th in the semi-finals, a very creditable display indeed, clocking a massive personal best of 3:33.15, almost one second quicker than his previous best
He said afterwards all the sacrifice had been "worth it." Undounted by his display in the heats he was determined to make an impact in the repechage - and he did.
He was willingness and able to step up to the next level.
For some time Doyle has displayed his abilities as a middle distance runner. He ran a sub-four minute mile at the Morton Mile in 2022 despite competing with a fractured elbow and broken wrist!
Doyle won back-to-back outdoor titles in 2022 and 2023 over 1500 metres.
He competed for the Irish team at the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships held in Chorzów, Silesia, Poland in the summer of 2013, finishing second in his 1500 metres in 3.43.36.
In February 2024, he edged out Nick Griggs with a dive on the line to win the 1500m final at the Irish Indoor Championships at Abbotstown.
In June 2024, he won the Irish Championships 1500 metres title in Dublin. He set a new personal best of 3:52.06 for the mile in Dublin, in July 2024.
Doyle's sense of accomplishment at Paris 2024 contrasted with the bitter disappointment felt by Andrew Coscoran who felt he didn't do himself justice in the 1500m heats or repechage.
"I'm devastated. The last time I came to the Olympics I made a semi-final, so it seems like I've taken a step backwards," said the Star of the Sea man.
Sport. It can kind but cruel also.