“A lot of people who aren’t in professional sport don’t realise the sacrifices that go on.”
Throughout his career, Charlie Eastwood had stood on the podium on dozens of occasions.
However, this one felt different.
Just two days earlier, the 29-year-old had lost his father, John, after a brave battle with illness.
In a “whirlwind week”, Eastwood had been doing simulator work in Italy before getting a call to say John was to return home from hospital to be with his family for his final days.
He rushed to collect his wife, Cat, and children from their home in Portugal to join the rest of the family in Northern Ireland.
“It was a tough time, but it was as nice as it could have been,” said Eastwood.
“The whole family was there by his bedside, back at home, which was his wish.”