Kenny Egan has just been unveiled as Fine Gael’s latest election candidate.
The 32-year-old Olympic silver medallist will battle it out in the local elections in his hometown of Clondalkin.
He will be joined on the ticket by Councillor Emer Higgins who is looking to keep her place on South Dublin County Council.
"I was approached by Minister Fitzgerald a number of weeks ago," he said.
"I'm going to be honest - I didn't know much about politics or anything to do with politics, until I sat down and we had a good chat."
"The stuff she was talking about really made sense, about helping the youth in the local community and in the area."
"And that's something that I do have an interest in. I do want to try and educate the youth of today about the dangers that faces them out there, on a daily basis."