Sarah Lavin 'keeping Craig Breen close to me' as she pays tribute to ...

SARAH LAVIN will dedicate her performances at the Paris Olympics to her late boyfriend Craig Breen.

Motorsport star Breen tragically died at the age of 33 in April 2023 when he collided with a pole ahead of the Croatia Rally.

The heartbreak remains for long-time girlfriend Sarah Lavin, who was announced as Team Ireland's joint-flagbearer for Paris 2024, alongside Shane Lowry.

The 30-year-old admitted that the memory of Breen remains with her as she prepares for her second Olympic Games.

She said: "Yeah, it’s been incredible difficult from a performance perspective.

"Going into Tokyo, I’d broken 13 seconds once and this time round I think I’ve qualified 10 times in the last 12 months for this Games.

"I was the last person on the plane the last time round, I think I was the first from the athletics side this time.

"I’m running for a lot. And I hope to keep Craig close to me for the next few days, as always."

Lavin and Lowry have known for a while that they were going to carry the tri-colour at the opening ceremony which takes place this evening.

The golfer and 100m hurdler had to keep the secret for everybody, including family, to avoid word getting out before this morning’s official announcement at the Irish Cultural Centre.

Lavin – Limerick’s sole member on the 133-strong Team Ireland -  said: “I found out a few weeks ago now.

"I was crying when I found out initially.

“The hardest person to try and keep it a secret was my mother! 

“I knew it was going to eat her up.

"As the week was coming in, my godmother would be on the phone - her sister - and she’d say, ‘One second I need to run it by Sarah’…‘Okay but make sure nobody outside the house know!’ 

“I think it was kept kind of quiet until this morning, but it was a tough one for the parents to hold.”

And Lowry added: “I was the same!

"I didn’t tell my Mum until the other day. 

“It would have been in the Tullamore Tribune a couple of weeks ago if I did!

"I told a couple of people. Neil Manchip, our team manager here, he obviously knew.

“Some of my team knew, I kept it as quiet as I could.

It’s a huge honour, something I’m very excited to be part of.”