Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy has revealed she still cannot believe she won a medal at Rio 2016.
Murphy arrived at Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon, to a heroes' reception from friends and family. She has become only the fourth Irish woman to win an Olympic medal, after Michelle Smith, Sonia O'Sullivan and Katie Taylor.
Speaking in Dublin Airport after returning to Irish soil, the sailor admitted she wasn't sure if her bast chance to win a medal came four years ago. Murphy finished fourth in the Laser Radial event in London having been in the medal positions for the majority of the competition.
"I've always thought for the last four years that my best was in London, and I was never going to be able to get close to a medal again."
"In the sailing world a lot of people have told me that Rio wasn't going to suit me, and I wasn't going to be able to perform well there, so it was hard to have to try and overcome that and be able to believe that I would be able to do it."
Ireland's newest Olympic silver medalist arrives home to a hero's welcome. pic.twitter.com/ZZk4BrXaPf
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) August 23, 2016
The 26-year had confidence issues going into the event, and spoke of how her low expectations helped as the competition progressed.
"Up until a few months ago I was unsure if I would be able to perform in Rio. We had a running joke. I was going; 'Well I hope I just don't finish last'. Everyday I would come in from racing an go; 'Well I guess today was good. I didn't finish last again'."
It's a week to the day, since Murphy won her silver medal. She has been overwhelmed with the support of the Irish public since the medal race, last Tuesday evening.
"It's been brilliant. The response from Ireland and the Irish sailing community has been incredible. To go online and see all the support from my friends and everyone - I cant even describe it. It's mental.
"I was just taking it one race at a time. When I was actually finished, and realised I managed to do the job that we had set out to do. It was then a relief. The next day, I woke up and thought I had to do it all over again. I didn't really realise that it had actually happened."
Fans will have the chance to meet the Rathfarnham native on Thursday evening, when an official homecoming takes place in the People's Park in Dun Laoghaire.
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