GB athlete with Westmeath roots set to be upgraded to Rio bronze

A Team GB athlete whose father is from Ballycomoyle looks set to have his Rio results upgraded, and to be awarded a bronze medal, along with his teammates.

Martyn Rooney was on the British 4x400m relay team – but following what appears to be a negative drug test for a Denis Alexeev – a member of the Russian relay team, the Russians have been disqualified, and told to give back their medals.

As a result Rooney and teammates Andrew Steel, Robert Tobin and Michael Bingham move up to the bronze position. Rooney wrote on Instagram yesterday:

In July, Rooney won a 400m gold medal at the European Athletics Championships. It was his second time in a row to take the gold medal at the event, having previously been first across the line at the 2014 European Championships in Zurich. London born and bred, Rooney is son of Liam, originally from Ballycomoyle, and his wife Marie (nee Martyn) originally from Sligo.