Maeve Kyle, Ireland’s First Female Track Olympian, Dies at 96
Her three-Olympic appearances, plus a record in field hockey, broke barriers for women in 1950s Ireland.
Overview
- The Olympic Federation of Ireland confirmed Kyle’s death on July 23, 2025, at age 96.
- OFI president Lochlann Walsh called her “a legend of Irish Olympic sport” and praised her role as an inspiration.
- Kyle debuted at the 1956 Melbourne Games as Ireland’s first female track-and-field Olympian and also competed in Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964.
- She reached the semifinals of the 400m and 800m in Tokyo and captured a 400m bronze at the 1966 European Indoor Championships.
- Beyond athletics, Kyle earned over 50 caps for the Irish national hockey team, underscoring her multi-sport versatility.