‘We committed $1m to treat as many Ukrainian soldiers as we could’ – the amazing story of one Irish Olympic family

Corcoran twins, Madison and Michaela, aim to emulate their father Mike by taking part in Olympics

Mike Corcoran and his daughter Madison.

Sinéad Kissane

Mike Corcoran was at the Canoe Slalom World Championships in Hertfordshire last September when he got a phone call from a military attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington DC.

Corcoran was supporting his 21-year-old daughters Madison and Michaela in the championships as they continued their efforts to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The twins were born and reared in America. Four years ago, they declared for Ireland in the hope of following the same course as their Dublin-born dad who represented Ireland at two Olympic Games.