I think I'm right in saying that when UK athletics were at their low point, Mary Peters won us our only gold in the Munich Olympics. Although born in England she was enthusiastic about her adopted homeland, and insisted on returning to Northern Ireland, even though as a high-profile successful Protestant she was a target for republican terrorists.
Well I remember Mary receiving the, I think, BBC Sportsperson Of the Year award from the previous holder, HRH Princess Anne. Having examined the trophy carefully. she commented "Didn't she look after it well"? Even HRH cracked a smile at that one.