Derry Olympian commemorated in the Liam Ball International Triathlon in memory of the 40th anniversary of his death

The annual Liam Ball International Triathlon commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Derry-born Olympic swimmer's death.

Ball passed away on June 16, 1984, at the age of 33, and the event was set up in memory of the swimmer who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games in Mexico City and Munich, respectively. 

His wife, Ann, also competed at the same Olympics as Liam for Ireland, and she has fond memories of Liam. 

She said:"We loved to banter about our swimming careers and records.

"I never really kept my medals and that, but in his house there was a room full of medals and memorabilia. And when he would say something smart, and I'd always say, 'You see all that in the house, it will never match my one gold medal'.

"He was a great character and a true gentleman.

"The respect he had for the people everywhere he went was incredible."

Ball has also been commemorated on a mural in his home area of Creggan. 

And Ann is proud to see his memory living on across Derry, having moved to the city in 2015.She said: "It is obvious to see just how loved he was around Derry.

"He deserves it. Not only was he an amazing athlete, he was a great person."

Next year is the 40th year of the event, and his daughter Lianne is thankful for the important work done by Liam's sister, Kathleen McGlinchey, and the Northwest Triathlon Club in consistently organising it, along with the support the triathlon has gotten from Templemore Sports Complex and the Derry City and Strabane council.

Liam's three daughters have all taken part in the triathlon previously, and with the next year being a special anniversary, Lianne is determined for her and sister Angelina to take part, but eldest daughter Kerrylee won't having sadly passed away in 2015.

Lianne said: "Unless I'm in a hospital bed, I'll be doing it next year. 

"It is such a great day and such a good time.

"It is crazy that an event like this has been running for that length of time. It is a really good sentiment to him that it is still running."

Brimming with pride of her father's achievements, Lianne is buoyed by how fondly people speak about Liam.

The 41-year-old is pleased to have noticed an increase in participants at the annual event due to the introduction of a smaller triathlon by organisers, Northwest Triathlon Club.

She said: "There are a lot more people who have started competing in it thanks to the try a tri. It has given them the itch to do the full one the next year. 

"It may feel daunting to do a full triathlon, but this allows them to try it, and inevitably they fall in love with it."