Kellie Harrington brought the country to a standstill at the last Olympics, the entire nation following her step by step as she won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
The Dubliner's epic journey to the top of the podium really caught the imagination of the country as Harrington emulated Katie Taylor to win boxing gold at the Covid-delayed Games, which took place a year later than scheduled in 2021.
Honoured and humbled in equal measure, Harrington wore her heart on her sleeve as she reached the pinnacle of her sport with the nation looking on from afar before welcoming home their latest boxing hero.
Three years on and Harrington is going for gold once again at the Paris Games, where she could even surpass Taylor’s amateur successes by securing back to back medals – a feat that the Bray legend was unable to achieve in Rio having won the gold at London 2012.
A lot has happened for Harrington throughout those intervening years since standing proudly to Amhrán na bhFiann in the Japanese capital; from the joyous celebration of marriage to partner Mandy Loughlin and receiving the freedom of Dublin, to the depths of anguish following a social-media storm when she retweeted right-wing commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, which led to tough questions regarding her stance on immigration.
After a tough radio interview with Off The Ball, Harrington admits that she went to a dark place and was thankful for the close circle of support that helped her through the controversy.
"I kind of spiralled downhill… and went to the really darkest of the darkest places," said Harrington, speaking on the Path to Paris, which airs on RTÉ tonight.
"It hasn’t been easy, but I’m made of stronger stuff, and I have a very, very small, strong circle.
"I’ve been to counsellors, I’ve been to the doctors, I’ve been through it. It made me realise who actually has my back in life when the chips are down, these are the people who are there for you, who are checking in on you, who are making sure you’re all right and that you’re looking after your mental state, which wasn’t great."
Looking ahead to the upcoming Games, which begin in Paris on Friday, 26 July, Harrington appears to be returning to her former self both in and out of the ring.
If the Olympic success of 2021 was for the nation, it is clear that this particular voyage is for Harrington herself, for Mandy, her coach, Noel Burke, close friends and her family.
The journey back to the top of her game is appearing to sync perfectly with the Games, having secured her qualification for Paris last summer.
A year to prepare for the Olympics, Harrington showed that she was back to her best at the European Games where the gold medal secured her Olympic place.
And while the form is indicating that there is a real chance of making it back to the podium in Paris - she won bronze at this year's European Championships - for Harrington it really is just about getting back to herself, knowing that she is at her best when she is feeling good.
"You’re not allowed to be your own person, you now have to be whoever people want you to be," said Harrington, in relation to how the Tokyo gold changed her life.
"It changes people, and I didn’t want to change as I’m very happy with who I am and what I have.
"People want to build you up, but they’ll tear you down just as quick. I’m hoping that I’ve parked that feeling, the sadness, the madness, the anger at the world and I’m able to move forward now and focus and just concentrate on me.
"I know that I need a shift in my mentality and in my focus. That is what drives me is that feeling which I haven’t had in a while, so I’m trying to get that back now."
"Going out to Paris, I’ll be very honest with you, I’m not focused on a medal, I’m focused on performing, I’m focused on just being me and just feeling good again. That’s all I want, is to just feel good again. If I feel good, I’ll perform. That’s what drives me.
"It’s not about being the greatest, it’s not about bringing back a medal, it’s that feeling of, 'I’m just going to get this done because this is what I’ve worked for’."
Watch Path to Paris on RTÉ One tonight at 10.10pm and on the RTE Player.
