Fast forward five years to the delayed Paralympic Games in Tokyo and in addition to claiming gold in the above categories, Dunlevy and McCrystal also came away with silver medals in the women’s B individual pursuit.

Despite already being the veteran of two Paralympic games and several World Championships, McCrystal admits she still experiences nerves ahead of big races.

Yet this is something she views as a positive and with the likelihood being that this will be her final Paralympics, Louth native McCrystal is hopeful of replicating those past feats in the French capital.

“This is my third Paralympic Games. It’s not easy, we’re training full-time. I’m a Mum of two kids. I have to kind of figure out what is happening after this. I still love it though,” acknowledged McCrystal, who is also a member of An Garda Siochana.

“I get nervous at a local race, so never mind going to the Paralympic Games! I think if you don’t have nerves, there is something wrong. The nerves drive me on. It means I want it, I’m passionate.

“I’m as passionate to win as I was 10 years ago. That has never left me. I really hope that I can do our tandem proud and I am definitely focused to try and do that.”

That triumvirate of podium finishes from Dunlevy and McCrystal helped to ensure that Ireland left the Tokyo Games in 2021 with a total of seven medals to their name.

Team Ireland came away with the same haul at this year’s Paris Olympics and there is plenty of inspiration Paralympic athletes can take from the likes of Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan and Kellie Harrington.

However, even though their ninth place finish saw them just missing out on progression from a qualifying round, McCrystal takes plenty of encouragement from the performances produced by the cycling quartet of Mia Griffin, Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy and Lara Gillespie in the women’s team pursuit at the Olympics.

“I think when you watch the team pursuit, the Irish girls, and the massive performance that they put in… we’re a small nation, we’ve no velodrome. For them to do what they did, it just puts fire in your belly to strive to do that ourselves,” McCrystal added.

Amongst those who are set to join Dunlevy and McCrystal in competing at the cycling in the Paralympics (which begins with track events from August 29 to September 1, before the road events take over September 4-7) will be first-time Paralympians Josephine Healion and pilot Linda Kelly.

Incidentally, while Offaly native Healion has been partnered by Kelly for international track competitions in recent times, she has also paired up with McCrystal in international road competitions.

Given she has only seriously committed to competitive racing in the past three years, Healion is thrilled to have progressed to the point where being part of the Paralympic Games has become a reality.

Suffice to say, now that she finds herself in Paris, her sights are set on becoming the latest cyclist on these shores to achieve a Paralympics podium finish.

“I suppose that’s the dream really, isn’t it? Always aim high is definitely what I’ve learnt. Never let anything stand in the way. Once I put out my best performance, I’ll be happy,” Healion said.

“I had no idea really how to get into competitive cycling. I was watching it from afar, but to think now that I’m training with the girls is crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it probably four years ago if someone said it to me, but it’s phenomenal.”