Olympic Spillage #20: Ireland’s final standings, Ulster, Phelps goes on holiday and a pose off between Farrah and Bolt

The final day of the Olympics and in today’s Spillage we look at how Ireland’s final medal haul stacks up, Ulster’s Olympic medallists, Michael Phelps’ partying and Usain Bolt’s tribute to Mo Farrah.

That was a good show...

Well after a few weeks and one gold, one silver and three bronze medals Team Ireland can be pretty happy with London 2012. It equals Ireland’s best ever Olympic performance 56 years ago when Ireland won the same configuration of medals.

Boxing was our top sport in that Olympics as well with Fred Tiedt winning silver and Fred Gilroy, John Caldwell and Anthony Byrne winning bronze being added to Ronnie Delaney’s gold in the 1500metres.

Ireland finished 21^st in that Olympics, in this one Ireland’s 56 athletes finished 40th in the medal table sandwiched between Georgia and Argentina. The United States at the moment are first in the medal count on 102, China are second on 87, while the hosts Britain are third in the table with considerably more golds than Russia in fourth.

Added to Ireland’s medals can be included the fourth place finishes of Rob Heffernan and Annalise Murphy in race walking and sailing respectively this year.

Ulster pride

This is a great picture taken today of all of Ulster’s medal winners this Olympics. Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan who represented Team Ireland were joined by Coleraine brothers Richard and Peter Chambers who took silver in the men's lightweight fours in rowing and Alan Campbell who won a bronze in the men's single sculls who all represented Team GB:

It was a good Olympics for Team GB and Ireland and indeed Ulster.

Phelps Partying

Speaking of having a good Olympics, Michael Phelps took his tally up to 22 medals and the US swimmer retired as the most decorated Olympian of all-time. So what does the 27-year old legend do next? Party hard of course.

We don’t think Michael Phelps will be about for the Olympic Closing Ceremony this evening, he has jetted off to Maldives making good on his promise to do bit of travelling after his Olympic career.

Here’s a picture from celebrity gossip site TMZ of Phelps hanging out with his buddies on the tropical island:

He hasn’t brought his girlfriend Megan Rossee along with him, but this is a picture of the girl he’ll be coming back to:

Damn you Phelps.

Farrah and Bolt

Jamaica won the 4x100metres last night and Britain's Mo Farrah won the 5,000metres to collect his second gold medal of the games.

Usain Bolt won his third gold medal of the games as he crossed the line and the Jamaican relay team smashed their world record. Afterwards Bolt performed Farrah’s trademark “Mobot” celebration and Farrah performed Bolt’s signature lightning bolt pose as the two had the craic on the podium:

Good form from two of the superstars of the London 2012 games.