Former Irish national marathon champion and 1980 Olympian Pat Hooper has died at the age of 68.

Rhine Shamrock, a clubman, died suddenly of a heart attack.

Hooper, the most popular man in the world of Irish athletics, won the national title in 1979 with a personal best of 2:17:46 and competed in the Moscow Games the following year.

He is ranked 42nd in Moscow, behind his younger brother Dick, a three – time Dublin Marathon winner.

Hooper was an integral part of the growth of the Rohingya Shamrock Running Club, and as a volunteer it was a regular feature at various athletics events across the country.

Hooper, a longtime member of Athletics Ireland’s competitive committee, was re-elected chairman of Leinster Athletics in January. He is the current chairman of the Dublin Athletic Board.

Our hearts are broken

Irish Athletics lost a great servant – a mere gentleman who had contributed so much to the sport on and off the track.

1980 Pat Olympian Pat Hooper dies.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the wider community – RIP pic.twitter.com/7xojpAiKWS

– KBC Dublin Marathon (ub Dublin Marathon) October 9, 2020

Sorry to hear about Pat Hopper’s death.

As long as I study athletics I have heard his name spoken a lot, and I have seen his influence and legacy in our sport.

My thoughts and prayers go to all his family.

Thanks to Pat for giving so much to our sport. https://t.co/CFl1QKPbLa

– Sierra Magian (ira Sierra Magian) October 9, 2020