Mary Peters: This Sporting Life

Original version

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

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BBC One Northern Ireland

This Sporting Life

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Sport: Football

Documentaries about the lives of sports personalities.

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

Stephen Watson

Mary Peters

Simon Miller

Mary McKeagney

This Sporting Life: Series 1: Mary Peters

Series 1

BBC Radio Scotland - This Sporting Life, Series 1, Mary Peters

Stephen Watson hears how Mary Peters defied threats and became a local hero.

In 1972 Mary Peters won Olympic gold, becoming a hero in Northern Ireland. She reveals to Stephen Watson the story behind her win and why her next medal was particularly poignant.

Moving to Northern Ireland at the age of eleven, it was a glimpse through a hole in a hedge that led Mary Peters to begin to train as an athlete. But it was an encounter with a colourful character called Buster McShane that would help spur her on to achieve international sporting success.

Mary would go on to win an Olympic gold at the 1972 Munich games but, while she had become a hero to the people of Northern Ireland, not everyone was delighted with her success. Mary would become the target of a serious threat on her life.

Speaking candidly to Stephen Watson, the now Lady Mary Peters reveals the true story behind her sporting success and explains why her last medal win in 1974 was particularly poignant.

This Sporting Life: Series 1

BBC Radio Scotland

Documentaries looking at the lives of sports personalities.

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This Sporting Life

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