John Treacy is now known to most of us as the CEO of the Irish Sports Council but the Waterford native is a four time Olympian, with a silver medal in the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics amongst his many accolades. He may have hung up the ash many years ago but John can often be spotted in Fraher Field or Walsh Park proudly supporting the Déise!

1. How long did your hurling career last?
Just during National School, roughly five years

2. What age were you when it started/finished?
7-12

3. Did you win any hurling honours?
Yep, we won our division in the West Waterford Schools Cup

4. What was your greatest moment on the hurling pitch?
The West Waterford Schools Cup win

5. Do you still pick up the stick every once in a while?
Just a golf stick

6. Which hurlers do you most admire and why?
The genius Tony Browne, John Mullane for his passion and Henry Shefflin

7. Which club/county do you support?
Waterford

8. What was the best match you ever attended?
Last year’s All-Ireland final was a great game or any of the Munster finals that Waterford won

9. Would you prefer a 65 into the wind and rain at Croker or a 12 foot putt at Augusta?
12 foot putt at Augusta

10. An Oscar acceptance speech or a Liam McCarthy victory speech?
Neither likely for a scrawny runner

11. If you could play with any county team which would it be and why?
Waterford because it’s in my blood

12. Have any of the skills you learned form hurling been of benefit to you in your current career?
Yea, the importance of teamwork and how good it can be when a team comes together and achieves their goals

13. Who is going to win the Liam McCarthy in 2011?
Waterford, would also be nice to see Dublin emerge

14. Who will win the U-21 Hurling Championship in your view?
Waterford

15. Which athlete would you like on your hurling team?
Usian Bolt, for his speed and height

16. What is your favourite GAA ground?
Semple Stadium

17. Our website is called breakingthrough.ie. What was your break through moment?
Finishing 3rd in the Junior World Cross Country Championship in 1974

18. Which hurling manager would you most liked to have played under?
Brian Cody

19. What was your best attribute/skill on the hurling pitch?
Cheering on the lads

20. What was the last hurling game you attended?
Last year’s All-Ireland final

21. You are one point down in the All-Ireland final and you have just been awarded a penalty in the last play of the game…goal or point?
Goal