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In 1972 Mary Peters won Olympic gold, becoming a hero to the people of Northern Ireland. In an extended interview with Stephen Watson, she reveals the story behind her win.

Moving to Northern Ireland at the age of eleven, it was a glimpse through a hole in a hedge that led Mary Peters to begin to train as an athlete. But it was an encounter with a colourful character called Buster McShane that would help spur her on to achieve international sporting success.

Mary would go on to win an Olympic gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics – but while she’d become a hero to the people of Northern Ireland, not everyone was delighted with her success. Mary would become the target of a serious threat on her life.

In this specially extended interview from the series This Sporting Life, the now Lady Mary Peters reveals the true story behind her sporting success – and explains why her last major medal in 1974 was particularly poignant.

Release date:

39 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Stephen Watson
Series Producer Simon Miller
Executive Producer Mary McKeagney