WHEN the Delta Air Lines flight 129 bound for Atlanta departed Dublin Airport as scheduled at 9.50 yesterday morning it had on board a small but remarkable group of high achievers.

Each has fought a lonely battle to be where he or she is now. Each has discovered a self worth born of frustration, failure and endless disappointments to reach the pinnacle of their chosen pursuit. They have forsaken material gain to be the best they can be. Each represents, fully, the spirit of the true Olympian.

These were the last of the biggest Irish Olympic squad of 120 to embark on a journey that will see them take on the world in Atlanta. Of this number, fewer than a handful can realistically hope to take back a medal.

But, there are Irish athletics, boxing, swimming and equestrian representatives that do nurture tangible expectations of reaching the podium. For most competitors, just to compete at the greatest sporting occasion is the manifestation of a dream.

It must certainly have seemed inalienably removed from 1,500 metres runner Shane Healy only six years ago. In Hawaii in 1990, I was working as a waiter when I decided to move to San Francisco. There, I enrolled in a Community College for $50 a semester and met Archie Owens an athletics coach. He challenged me to run a mile and I did, in four minutes and 32 seconds," said Healy.

Obviously, Owens was impressed. Since then, Healy has brought his 1,500 metres time down to 3:36, and he knows there is room for improvement. "The human body can do almost anything if you have an unshatterable belief in yourself."

Sinead Delahunty took a more conventional route to her place in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres. From Castleinch, Kilkennny, she made her way to Providence College in Rhode Island on an athletics scholarship. Delahunty (25), is the second fastest Irish woman over 1,500, behind only Sonia O Sullivan.

I live in Boston now, where I have an excellent coach in John Evans. I ran 4:04 twice in the last two weeks, and I think I have a good chance of making the final," she said.

Plagued by an early season shoulder injury, javelin thrower Terry McHugh's rehabilitation is almost complete. He threw 75.80 metres at Belfield recently, and he knows there is scope for something better. My Irish record is 82.14 metres and I think 80.50 will make the final. So, I want to get to the final. I don't start until August 2nd, and this will give me the opportunity, to peak and get use to the heat.