Scott added that it was “surreal” for four athletes from Northern Ireland to have won gold medals in Paris.
“We’ve just exploded and we’ve been building for this moment for quite some time,” she said.
“To come away with four gold medals, I don’t think that anyone really expected that. It’s been really cool.
“There is the momentum of the swimmers getting their gold, then for me and Rhys getting his after, it’s been a really cool experience for Northern Ireland. I’m really proud.”
And perhaps this is the most exciting aspect of the golden moments.
Wiffen, Scott and McClenaghan were already world champions in their own right heading to Paris, and backed that up with Olympic gold.
All three are aged 25 or under, and have their best years ahead of them.
McMillan, too, is only 24 and has targeted individual events at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
He said the “possibilities are endless” for the future, and Wiffen added: “What’s possible? Many medals to come, I’d say.”
Who are we to disagree?
After 36 years of waiting for someone from Northern Ireland to be on that top step again, this golden generation could just be getting started.
