For the first time ever, there can be two flag bearers from each nation – one male, one female.

The opening ceremony will begin at 12:00 pm Irish time and will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, with 16 of the 31 Irish medals having been won by boxers.

The list of Irish Olympian boxing medallists includes the undisputed lightweight champion in women’s boxing, Katie Taylor and fellow Gold Medal winner Michael Carruth.

Brendan Irvine is competing in his second Olympic Games after taking part in Rio 2016 while Harrington is embarking on her first, and is going into the tournament as one of the top-seeded boxers in the lightweight (-60kg) category.

Speaking on her selection, Harrington said: “This means so much to me, to be able to represent not only myself as a person, but as a boxer, for boxing, for my family and for Ireland. It’s an amazing honour, there are so many athletes out here, and to be chosen as one of the flagbearers is absolutely fantastic.

“I can’t believe it really. Walking out there and realising I’m the flagbearer, it’s the start of the Olympic Games, and I’m at the pinnacle of our sport.”

Her teammate Irvine is also the boxing team captain, competing in the Flyweight category (-49kg).

“I know Brendy a long time now, and he is a fantastic person. He is what you call a leader; he leads the team.

“I’m so happy that it’s him out there with me. I just know we will be looking at each other and smiling. We will be feeling so proud, and I know his family and friends and community are quite like mine and everyone will be so proud of our achievements. I’m absolutely delighted.”

Almost half of the 116 Team Ireland athletes are currently residing in the Olympic village, as well as teams who are settling into the satellite venues.

Team Ireland action begins on Friday, with the rowers in action just ahead of the Opening Ceremony. The Olympic Games in Tokyo run from Friday, July 23rd – Sunday, August 8th, with 116 Irish athletes competing.

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34-year-old sprinter Usain St Leo Bolt first made a name for himself in athletics during the 2002 World Junior Championships. At the tender age of 15, the already 6 foot 5 sprinter set a 200m personal best of 20.58 seconds in the first round before posting a time of 20.61 seconds in the second round to scoop the Gold medal.
With that performance he became the youngest world-junior Gold medallist ever, during that tournament he also won Silver as part of the Jamaican sprint relay team. His first Olympic Games came in 2004 when he headed to Athens to represent his country.

Unfortunately for Bolt, he was eliminated after the first round due to an injury he picked up in training for the Games. That disappointment put the fire in his belly to come back in 2008 stronger and more confident of success.
At those games Bolt won Gold in the 100m, setting a World Record time of 9.69 seconds along the way. 4 years later in London he once again won Gold in the event, shaving 0.06 seconds off his time before winning his third 100m Gold medal in 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
An astonishing effort from a truly world class athlete.

(Blink and you’ll miss it, Usain Bolt’s rapid 100m sprint at the London 2012 Games.)
#4 Jesse Owens
Track and Field
USA

In 1936 global politics was a frenzied melting pot threatening to explode into conflict at any moment. Great Britain and a host of other European superpowers were all seeking to appease Germany’s troubling new leader, Adolf Hitler.

Despite taking the move to ban German Jewish athletes from competing, Hitler’s Germany was still allowed by the IOC to host the Games. In fact, such was the desire to not offend der Führer that Jewish athletes from other countries were side-lined.
Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete caused great embarrassment to Hitler when he won 4 Gold medal in track and field events, making a mockery of the Nazi regime’s belief in Aryan supremacy.
It was later reported that Owens was snubbed by Hitler when he was led to the honours box following his fourth medal. Unfortunately because of the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Berlin Games would be Owens first and last appearance at the Olympics.
#3 Nikolai Andrianov
Gymnast
Soviet Union

The Cold War had an impact on so many aspects of life, but one area that really benefitted from the American and Russian desire to outdo one another was the world of sports.

Nikolai Andrianov was one of the incredibly talented athletes in the Soviet Union to benefit from the increased investment into sporting facilities. He made his Olympic debut in 1972 during a period in which Japan had been heavily dominating gymnastics.
Andrianov left those games with a Silver and a Bronze medal, before announcing himself on the big stage at the 1976 Montreal Games. There he won 4 Gold medals in the All-around, Floor exercise, Rings and Vault.
4 years later with the Olympics taking place on home soil, Andrianov won 2 more Golds, 2 more Silvers and another Bronze to bring his total Olympic medal haul to 15.

(Footage of Nikolai Andrianov’s floor exercise at the 1976 Olympic Games.)
#2 Larisa Semyonovna Latynina
Gymnast
Soviet Union

In terms of longest name on this list, we have a winner. In terms of the record for most overall Olympic medals outside of the pool, we also have a winner.

Larisa Semyonovna Latynina won 18 medals at Games in an Olympic career that began at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Unlike Andrianov, she didn’t need any time to warm up to the world stage, scooping her first 4 Gold medals on debut.

This was followed up with another 3 Gold medals at the 1960 Rome Games and a further 2 Golds at the 1964 Tokyo Games. In addition to her fantastic haul of 9 Gold medals the Soviet also won 5 Silvers and 4 Bronzes at Olympic Games.
#1 Michael Phelps
Swimmer
USA

Michael Fred Phelps II is without a shadow of a doubt the greatest Olympian of all-time. The Flying Fish as he is known in the USA holds the records for most medals won at Games with a truly staggering collection of 28.

(Michael Phelps’ 2004 Olympic debut still stands as the most impressive Olympics debut in history.)

In his first appearance at an Olympics in 2004, he stunned swimming fans by winning Gold in 6 different events. This was then followed up with a haul of 8 Medals at the 2008 Beijing Games before a somewhat (for him) underwhelming tally of only 4 Golds at the 2012 London Games.

In his last appearance at an Olympic Games, Phelps won 5 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal to at Rio 2016 to cement his place as the most decorated Olympian of all-time.

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The announcement brings the total number of Team Ireland athletes competing across athletic events up to 25.

The number makes this year’s team Ireland’s second-biggest ever athletics team heading to the Games.

Athletics Performance Director and Team Manager for the Team Ireland Athletics Squad, Paul McNamara said: “The ‘end-game’ of the qualification period was excruciatingly difficult for many, but these athletes and their coaches expertly navigated the qualification system and have been rewarded with their place on the biggest stage.”

Today’s announcement includes athletes who both achieved qualification standards in their respective events, or who finished within their event’s Road To Tokyo rankings on the cut-off day last week.

The athletics events occur in the second week of the Games, running from Friday 30 July – Sunday 8 August, with the events taking place in both Sapporo Odori Park and the Olympic Stadium.

Thomas Barr will be heading to his second Olympics Games to compete in the Men’s 400m hurdles event.

The 28-year-old said: “I am very proud to be representing Ireland at my second Olympic Games. The men’s 400m hurdles is one of the most competitive events on the track at the moment and I can’t wait to line up and compete against the best on the biggest stage in the world.”

Barr was one of the athletes who had secured their qualification time in advance of the cut-off.

Others like 800m runner Mark English and 100m hurdler Sarah Lavin qualified late into the process, with English achieving qualification on the last day with a new national record in the event.

Team Ireland Full Athletics team named

2⃣5⃣ Athletes will compete across the athletics disciplines for #TeamIreland this summer in #Tokyo2020 #NothingInOurWay

Track & Field is one of the most anticipated events on the schedule, read more

https://t.co/F0XBZxzlhZ pic.twitter.com/uSPgKNtRbN

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 8, 2021

Cork’s Phil Healy will be representing Team Ireland in three events – the most out of any Team Ireland athlete.

“It is a real honour for any athlete to be selected to represent their country at the Olympic Games,” Healy said.

“To achieve qualification in one event is a dream for any athlete as the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athletes career.

“I am thrilled to be selected for two individual events in addition to the mixed 4x400m relay.

“Every athlete has worked so hard to get to this point and it’s made all the more special to have such a large and strong athletics team heading to the Games.”

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Tricia Heberle, complimented the members of the Track & Field and 20km Walk team.

She described the athletes who qualified as a talented team who have been faced with a challenging season of competition.

She believes Team Ireland is bringing a strong group over to Tokyo.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do on the world’s biggest stage.”

To see the full list of Irish athletes for the Tokyo Games, click here.

Team Ireland Athletics Team

Individuals

Thomas Barr (400m Hurdles)

Síofra Cléirigh Büttner (800m)

Andrew Coscoran (1500m)

Mark English (800m)

Michelle Finn (3,000m Steeplechase)

Eilish Flanagan (3,000m Steeplechase)

Phil Healy (200m/400m/400m Relay)

Sarah Healy (1500m)

David Kenny (20K Walk)

Sarah Lavin (100H)

Marcus Lawler (200m)

Ciara Mageean (1500m)

Nadia Power (800m)

Leon Reid (200m)

Louise Shanahan (800m)

Mixed 4x400m Relay Team (Four athletes from the following six)

Cillin Greene

Chris O’Donnell

Phil Healy

Sophie Becker

Robert McDonnell

Cliodhna Manning

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Nine Irish swimmers are set to compete in Tokyo across 14 events and will be in action in the newly built Tokyo Aquatics Centre from Saturday 24 July – Sunday 1 August 2021.

The strength and depth of Irish swimming has been on display over the past number of years, culminating this year with the ultimate qualification of six swimmers who have achieved the FINA A time across their events.

Jon Rudd, National Performance Director and Team Leader for the Games is excited to see the swimmers in action.

He said: “The standard of swimming in Ireland is growing, and without all these athletes striving for improvement, we would not be where we are today, fielding the largest ever swim team for Ireland.”

25-year-old Darragh Greene from Longford is one of the nine swimmers travelling to Tokyo.

Coached by Ben Higson, who has two other swimmers making the trip to Japan, Greene will compete in 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

It will be the first Olympic Games for the first Irishman to swim the 100m breaststroke in under one minute.

The Irish senior record holder for both events said that “the Olympics have been something that [he has] dreamt about for a long time, and it is a real honour to be officially selected to compete for Team Ireland in Tokyo.”

Other swimmers on the team include record-holders such as Mona McSharry and Tipperary native Finn McGeever.

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Tricia Heberle, is excited by the large number of qualified swimmers.

She believes it’s especially encouraging seeing the number of FINA A standard swimmers qualifying.

Heberle concluded: “The past year has been tough for everyone, but seeing how our swimmers handled that first lockdown, coming out of it producing personal bests and national records, in challenging circumstances has been a true test of resilience.”

Team Ireland Swim Team For Tokyo 2020

Darragh Greene

Danielle Hill

Brendan Hyland

Finn McGeever

Jack McMillan

Mona McSharry

Shane Ryan

Ellen Walshe

Daniel Wiffen

The post Team Ireland Names Largest National Swim Team For Tokyo 2020 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

13 players will travel to Tokyo after the side qualified for the Olympics when they won the Olympic repechage on June 20th.

Captain Billy Dardis will lead his side out under the tutelage of IRFU Director of Sevens Rugby Anthony Eddy.

“Having the honour of being selected to captain Ireland at the Olympics is special and I don’t think I’ll come to realise the enormity of it for some time to come,” Dardis said.

“Going to Tokyo, we as a squad are representing so much more than ourselves and our families, but Irish Sport and Irish Rugby on the biggest sporting stage.

“To lead this group out at the Olympics will be an extremely proud moment.”

The team will compete in Pool C, facing South Africa, USA and Kenya with a top-two finish in the pool guaranteeing the side a spot in the quarter-finals.

If they finish as one of the two best third-placed teams, they will also qualify.

Once-capped Ireland U20s back and 2019 Love Island winner Greg O’Shea is also one of the 13 headed to Tokyo as part of Team Ireland.

Greg previously competed in Youth Olympics as a sprinter and relishes the opportunity to represent his country at an Olympic level once more.

“The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, so to represent Ireland at the Games is a huge honour and it means even more to be there playing alongside my mates,” said O’Shea.

“All the hard work and sacrifice has been worth it and now I just cannot wait to get out there and play.”

Anthony Eddy has been head of the IRFU Sevens programme since its inception in 2015.

The New Zealander will be in charge of the programme and the side for its very first Olympic venture.

“We are delighted to be representing Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics,” Eddy noted.

“The squad has worked extremely hard for this opportunity, and they will be determined to perform well and represent their country with distinction.

“Very few rugby players get the opportunity to play rugby for their country at the biggest sporting event in the world and this squad of players should be very proud of their achievement and they will be the first of many more to come.”

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020 Tricia Heberle is excited to see the Sevens side in action in Tokyo.

She said that their path to qualification in Monaco was exhilarating, a path that took them past 2016 Olympians France.

Heberle added: “We are really looking forward to seeing what they can do now in Tokyo.”

Click here to see the athletes Team Ireland are taking to Tokyo.

TEAM IRELAND RUGBY SEVENS TEAM:

Jordan Conroy

Billy Dardis

Ian Fitzpatrick

Foster Horan

Jack Kelly

Terry Kennedy

Adam Leavy

Hugo Lennox

Harry McNulty

Gavin Mullin

Greg O’Shea

Mark Roche

Bryan Mollen

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The 29-year-old described her feelings when she was selected, using words such as elation, excitement, and relief to paint the picture.

She said that it was an unusual moment, an achievement she had chased for her whole career was finally her achievement.

“It was all a bit surreal – it was one of those moments that you’ve waited for your whole career…there was a lot of emotion in my house,” said Duke.

However, she sees it as a bittersweet situation when she thinks of those who missed out.

The Dusseldorf forward initially missed out on selection for the 2021 EuroHockey Championships last month but was called up after injuries affected the squad.

Duke noted that she can understand what those who missed out on Olympic selection are feeling because of this, stating that if it were not for the injuries within the squad, she may not be going to the Olympics.

“It’s been the toughest thing over the last number of weeks – it’s definitely a bittersweet situation…I’ve experienced both sides of the coin in recent weeks…sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t.”

I feel extremely privileged to be selected for the Tokyo Olympics

An honor to represent the entire Green Army, those who paved the way, close friends who just missed out & those coming behind us. In the Spirit of Jack Charlton-We’ll give it a lash in Tokyo!#Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/waDQaomSsv

— Nicci Daly (@NicciDaly22) June 28, 2021

Ireland fell short of the semi-finals at the Euros with a draw against Spain being the killer blow in the pool stages.

A 5-1 loss to England where “the wheels fell off” after taking the lead denied the ladies a fifth-placed finish and a spot at next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup.

Nevertheless, Duke believes there are positives to take from the ultimately disappointing campaign.

“I think we can take a lot of confidence from the hockey we played at the Euros going forward.”

Lessons can be learned from the defeat also as England’s purple patch in the second quarter was what took the game out of Ireland’s hands.

Every team will have purple patches and Duke feels that Ireland needs to keep their focus and weather the storms.

Additionally, the former UCD captain believes anything is possible in tournament hockey, as proven by Ireland 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup campaign which saw them finish runners-up as the second-lowest-ranked side at the competition.

“We’ve taken a huge amount of confidence from that tournament…..anything can happen in a one-off game.”

Yet, Duke noted that their run to the final included numerous close games and that their two knockout wins were via penalties, adding that the squad are “under no illusion.”

A new coach, new backroom staff and new players have come into the national setup since then, but the core of the World Cup squad remains.

11 of the 16 players going to the Olympics have silver medals from the 2018 World Cup run and the squad are a tight-knit group as a result.

Irish ladies hockey team progress to the World Cup final after a 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Spain. #HWC2018 https://t.co/cb5NEjRIXg pic.twitter.com/toyBwJRMZD

— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) August 4, 2018

The players kept themselves entertained throughout the World Cup in 2018 with all kinds of antics and there is great morale and a great spirit in the Olympic squad, according to Duke.

“We’re all buzzing to get there and get going.”

An extra year with Dancer and his staff before the Olympics has helped the team get to grips with what they ask of them and the side head to the games with a better understanding of what Dancer and co. want then they would have last year.

The preparation for the tournament has ramped up in recent weeks after a rest period following the team’s exit from the Euros.

To prepare for the conditions in Japan, Duke and the team have been doing a lot of work in heat chambers.

They were in a 45C sauna on Monday morning for 40 minutes and are doing what they can to acclimatise themselves to the Japanese humidity from their camp in Jordanstown, Belfast.

However, Duke thinks the conditions will still force the squad into a period of adjustment.

“There’s no comparison to playing at 12 o’clock in the day with 90% humidity.”

The team will head to Iwate on the northeast coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu where they will set up camp 10 days before the tournament kicks off on July 24^th.

Regardless of previous experiences, Duke admitted that the side does not know what to expect from the Olympics games.

“We’re the first women’s team to go so we really don’t know what to expect…we have no real expectations of what it should be like or what it is going to be like. We’re going to try and take it all in…at the end of the day, it’s just another hockey tournament so hopefully we won’t let the emotion, or the occasion get to us.”

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The Irishman will pair up with Rory McIlroy for the tournament as the duo will aim to win the first medal in golf for Ireland at the Olympics.

Lowry noted that it felt good seeing what the Olympics meant to those who chose him and hopes to do the country proud when he plays at the Kasumigaseki Country Club next month.

“I think it’s just pretty cool that I’m going,” said the one-time major winner.

The 2019 Open Champion is going over there searching for success and not for the experience alone, adding that he wants a medal.

Lowry ruled himself out of contention for the first-ever golfing tournament at the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to the outbreak of the Zika virus at the time.

At that time, he was recently newlywed to his wife Wendy and they were planning to have a family.

Statement on my Olympic Games participation pic.twitter.com/KY4YBzFa3g

— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) June 28, 2016

Based on that, he was advised not to travel to Rio to take part in the Olympic games and instead put his family’s welfare first.

Five years later, a year longer than expected, he will represent his country at the Olympics, something he described in his statement from June 2016 as an honour that would bring him “a huge source of pride.”

The Ryder Cup is another tournament that is also in the sights of the Irish golfer.

Lowry feels he is on course to be chosen by Pádraig Harrington to represent Europe in their defence of the trophy at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

His ability to stay in Ireland ahead of the upcoming Open Championship and subsequently his appearance at the Open will help his case as Whistling Straits is a links course, much like many courses in Ireland and Britain.

Lowry believes he only needs to replicate the form he has been in over the last year to be picked.

“I’ve put myself pretty close to the team. I think some good golf over the next couple of months will do that.”

Tee times and broadcast details for the 2021 Irish Open are available here.

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The Limerick hurdler won the 100m hurdles at the National Championships in Dublin with a 13.17 run.

The time is her second fastest ever, behind only her magnificent time last week in Madrid.

In Madrid, the hurdler broke her personal record with a 12.95 finish at the World Athletics Continental Tour silver meeting.

Lavin became the second-ever Irish woman to break the 13-second barrier.

The two sensational results for the 27-year-old have her in a great position to qualify for the Olympics.

The result means that Lavin can secure qualification with another good run in Lucerne, Switzerland on Tuesday.

The runner currently sits 36th in the Women’s 100m hurdles Road To Tokyo rankings.

The top 40 on June 29th, which is the closing date for the Olympic deciders, will travel to Tokyo to race in the event at the Olympics.

After rupturing two ligaments in her ankle a year ago, qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be the perfect way for the track star to recover.

The extra year to prepare for the Olympics has allowed her to regain fitness and get into the Olympic picture as the cut-off date draws near.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Lavin admitted that “the Olympics probably wasn’t going to happen for me this time 12 months ago.”

After the race on Saturday, the 27-year-old paid tribute to a friend she had recently lost on RTÉ.

“I lost a good friend of mine last Friday night and it really hurt this week because I came back on Sunday and found out.

“My family had kept it from me just for Madrid and I’ve no doubt she was behind that and she was behind today.

“I’m so lucky to be in this position and hopefully get the job done on Tuesday night.”

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