The 73-year-old Dame Mary, who had a Flybe aircraft (pictured) named after her – bearing a life-size image of her on the victory podium in Munich taken by her father on September 3, 1972 – said she was "overwhelmed" by the tribute.

"It's just amazing – I'm absolutely shaking with shock and surprise and joy," she said.

"Sharing this with all my friends... and, 40 years on, the gold medal still shines, doesn't it?"

Mary Peters (centre) with her Olympic gold medal at Munich 1972

Athens 2004 double Olympic champion Dame Kelly commented: "Mary was so chuffed and surprised.

"She had no idea that she was going to be splashed high up in the skies on a plane and I think it's just a great honour.

"She has brought real pride to Northern Ireland and this is part of the way of saying thank you."

Other medallists present at the airport unveiling before attending a celebration at the Grand Opera House were Kerly's Seoul 1988 hockey team-mates Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood, Coleraine rower Alan Campbell, who took bronze in the single sculls at London 2012, and boxer Hugh Russell.

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