Main Headlines

Three of the five Irish boats in action this morning, including reigning Olympic champions Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan, qualified directly through to the semi-finals of their respective events.

The women’s lightweight double qualifying for the repechage tomorrow where they will have a second chance to secure a semi-final spot, and the women’s four also going to the repechage of their event.

Sligo’s Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry set a new Irish record of 1:05.51 in the semi-final of the women’s 100m breaststroke as she qualified in style for tomorrow night’s final ranked second on times.

Tokyo bronze medallist Aidan Walsh lost out to his hometown opponent Makan Traore of France in the preliminaries of the welterweight division (71kg).

Sarah Ennis was the first of the Eventing trio to tackle the cross country course at the Palace of Versailles and got them off to a great start with a clear round and only a minor time penalty.

Susie Berry also with a clear round and just some time penalties.

Austin O’Connor was the final Irish rider out and recorded a clear round without any time penalties.

Eventing Team Ireland have been forced to replace Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M with Aoife Clarke and Sportsfield Freelance as a result of a minor injury to Ennis’ horse after this morning’s effort.

Sailors Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove impressed to win the third of their 12 qualifying races in the Skiff this afternoon, having earlier placed  fourth in the second race.

Boxing Offaly welterweight (66kg) Grainne Walsh was beaten by Hungarian opponent Anna Luca Hamori in the preliminaries 4-1.

The first ever Irish Women’s Rugby Sevens team at an Olympic Games bounced back from an earlier 21-12 to Britain with a 38-0 win over South Africa.

 Swimming

“I can’t ask for anything better”

Earlier in the day, McSharry had impressed on her Paris debut with her second fastest time ever in the 100m Breaststroke to advance to this evening’s semi-final in third place overall. Out in 30.82 and home in 34.92, the Tokyo finalist in the event clocked 1:05.74, just outside her Irish Record of 1:05.55 from the 2023 World Championships.

McSharry was second in her heat behind China’s Qianting Tang (1:05.63), with South Africa’s Tatijana Smith posting the fastest time of the heats in 1:05.00.

Rowing

Day two was very successful, with the Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls in the Repêchage tomorrow and the Women’s Four on Wednesday, while the remaining five boats go straight through to the semi-finals later in the week.

Women’s Pair (Fiona Murtagh & Aifric Keogh)
Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh demonstrated their strength and synergy, finishing 2nd in their heat. Their performance secured them a place in the Semi Final on Wednesday, starting at 9:54 am GMT.

Men’s Pair (Ross Corrigan & Nathan Timoney)
In a nail-biting photo finish, Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney clinched 3rd place in their heat, ensuring their progression to the Semi Final on Wednesday, beginning at 9:34 am GMT.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (Mags Cremen & Aoife Casey)
Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey fought hard to secure 3rd place in their heat. They will compete in the Repêchage tomorrow, Monday, at 10:00 am GMT, aiming for a spot in the Semi Final.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (Fintan McCarthy & Paul O’Donovan)
Reigning Olympic Champions Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy opened their Paris campaign with another convincing win in the heats of the LM2x. Moving up into first place after 600 meters, there was no catching the Irish double as they increased their lead stroke by stroke. Cruising through the finish line, there was never a doubt on their progression to the next round. They take to the water next on Wednesday morning where they will need to be in the top three to make it to the final.

Women’s Four (Emily Hegarty, Eimear Lambe, Natalie Long, Imogen Magner)
The Women’s Four team of Emily Hegarty, Eimear Lambe, Natalie Long, and Imogen Magner put in a solid performance, securing 3rd place in their heat. They will compete in the Repêchage on Tuesday at 10:30 am GMT, seeking to advance further in the competition.

Garth Young, Rowing Ireland High Performance Chairperson said of the Irish rowing squad:

“The absolute belief, drive, dedication, and commitment of our athletes and coaches are truly inspiring. It is this unwavering determination that fuels their pursuit of excellence on the world stage. The athletes have shown incredible resilience and strength, not just in their physical training but also in their mental preparation and focus.

“We are confident in our team’s potential to perform to their very best at these Games, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.”

Boxing

Aidan Walsh’s dream of winning a second Olympic boxing medal ended with a 4-0 defeat by France’s Mahan Traore in the preliminary round of the 71kg at  the North Paris Arena. The Tokyo bronze medallist got off to a great start, winning the first round unanimously on a 5-0 score.

Traore got in a big right hand early on the re-start and won the second round 4-1, leaving everything hinged on the final round. The Belfast man’s hopes of progressing were dealt a hammer blow early in the third when he got an official warning for ‘holding’, which automatically docked him by a point, resulting in victory for the home boxer on a 4-0 decision.

Afterwards Walsh said: “When you win the first round so clearly you just keep doing what you’re doing and it just usually goes for you. I know I got a warning in the third, I don’t really know why because I’ve been doing that all my career, hitting and holding. Usually you get a few cautions before you get a proper warning, but the referees seem to be clamping down on that in the last few months.

“I’m obviously bitterly disappointed”

There was huge disappointment for Offaly boxer Gráinne Walsh whose Olympic debut ended in a 4-1 split decision defeat by Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the preliminary round of the 66kg welterweight division.

Afterwards Walsh said: “I’m obviously bitterly disappointed. I just feel like I didn’t get a flow at all. I’m a fighter that relies very much on getting into my flow and using my reflexes and stuff. Anytime I got close she was leaning on me. I was trying to set my hands free. “I’m not blaming her for it. She did what she had to do to win the fight. I’m just frustrated,”

Monkstown BC’s first ever Olympian Jack Marley have Ireland a first victory in the ring at Paris 2024 when defeating Bereznicki of Poland in the last 16 of the heavyweight division (92kg) this evening.

“I knew I had to start as I mean to go on”

Equestrian

Sarah Ennis got the Irish team off to an almost perfect start on Eventing day two in Versailles. After a slightly disappointing score in her dressage test yesterday, Ennis and Action Lady M came home on a score of 41.2 after a clear round with just 3.2 time penalties to bring the Irish back into contention with Susie Berry and Austin O’Connor to come later. Pathfinder Ennis set off fourth of all competitors and superbly navigated the track coming home just outside the allowed time.

“She was incredible – where the crowds didn’t help in the dressage ring, they actually helped out there today. I’ve never seen so many people! She can be a little spooky and she actually backed away from the crowds, and I could ride around the turns. I stuck to the plan, and she was on it all the way. The ground hasn’t dried overnight and I nearly slipped in the woods but that was the only real scare. She actually lost a couple of shoes out on the track so fair dues to her – it really was a brilliant performance.”

Susie Berry followed up with another clear round on board Wellfields Lincoln, finishing with 15.2 time penalties. After a score of 33.0 in dressage yesterday, Berry moves to 48.2 after day two and, with the complexion of the competition ever changing with eliminations and retirements to riders from fancied nations, the Irish remain optimistic.

Cork’s Austin O’Connor delivered a foot-perfect clear cross country round within the time on board Colorado Blue to lie 14th individually in the Eventing. O’Connor and his grey came home one second under the limit to remain on his dressage score of 31.7 – leaving Ireland on a team total of 121.10 in eighth place. O’Connor was delighted and relieved in equal measure with his performance.

“He was electric … he’s just phenomenal”

“He was electric, even with his reputation on the cross country it’s a massive mighty relief to have it behind us. He was super the whole the whole way around. He was quick, he was good, he did what he’s good at – clear inside the time for the second time at an Olympics. He’s just phenomenal, and I’m beginning to hope he stays around forever. He’s an incredible horse, whatever he does from here on, he’s been the horse of a lifetime for me and he’s feeling as good as ever.”

Sailing

Ireland’s Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Seán Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) started their second Olympic Games as they did their first in Tokyo three years ago with a race win on their opening day in Marseille in the Men’s Skiff event.

The Dublin pair were ninth in the first race but then scored a fourth in their second, with both races sailed in very light winds. After a move to a different course for the third race of the day, the breeze picked up and Dickson and Waddilove led for the entire race. The last race win put them into second place overnight with a further three days of fleet racing to sail.

“Probably three firsts would have been nice,” commented Waddilove when asked if a better opening day could be scripted. “But it was very tricky – the first two races – so we’re really happy to come away with the results we did.”

Their standout performance was in the third and final race where they finished first as conditions improved and the breeze strengthened. Dickson and Waddilove.

Women’s Rugby Sevens

Ireland Women’s Sevens made history on Sunday afternoon as they ran out for their long-awaited Olympic Games debut at Stade de France, but their Paris opener ultimately ended in disappointment as they suffered a 21-12 defeat to Britain.

A first-half double from Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe had given Ireland a half-time lead against familiar rivals Britain, but two quickfire tries at the start of the second half put GB in the lead and they showed composure to see the result out and claim the first win of Pool A.

Speaking afterwards, captain Lucy Mulhall Rock said:

“That result means we’re not where we want to be after game one but I’m extremely proud of the team for the fight we showed throughout. Unfortunately we lost possession at key moments at the start of the second half and that cost us, but we need to take our learnings from that and move on quickly now. 

Team Ireland Results Sunday, 28th July 2024

Rowing, Women’s Pair (W2-), Fiona Murtagh & Aifric Keogh, 2nd in heat in 7:28.22, straight through to semi-finals (31stJul)

Rowing, Men’s Pair (M2-), Ross Corrigan & Nathan Timoney, 3rd in heat in 6:32.69, straight through to semi-finals (31stJul)

Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LW2x), Margaret Cremen & Aoife Casey, 3rd in heat in 7:12.89, through to repechage tomorrow (29Jul)

Boxing, Men’s 71kg, Prelims (Rd of 32), Aidan Walsh Beaten by Traore (FRA) 4-0

Swimming, Women’s 100m Breaststroke, Mona McSharry, 2nd in heat in 1:05.74, through to semi-final tonight, (S/F 2/2)

Equestrian – Eventing Cross Country – team and individual, Sarah Ennis, on a score of 41.20

Rowing, Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LM2x), Paul O’Donovan & Fintan McCarthy, 1st in heat in 6:34.12, through to semi-finals (31stJul)

Rowing, Women’s Four (W4-), Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe & Imogen Magner, 3rd in heat in 6:51.75, through to repechage (30thJul)

Equestrian – Eventing Cross Country – team and individual, Susie Berry, on a score of 48.2

Sailing, Men’s Skiff, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove, 9th in race 1

Equestrian – Eventing Cross Country – team and individual, Austin O’Connor, on a score of 31.70, team currently 8th overall with show jumping tomorrow

Sailing, Men’s Skiff, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove, 4th in race 2

Sailing, Men’s Skiff, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove, 1st in race 3, lying 2nd with 9 qualifying races to go

Women’s Rugby Sevens, Pool B, Ireland 12-21 Great Britain

Boxing, Women’s 66kg, Grainne Walsh Beaten by Anna Luca Hamori (HUN) 4-1 split decision

The post Sunday’s news and reaction from Paris 2024 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Main Headlines

Two of Ireland’s seven rowing crews raced this morning; the men’s and women’s double sculls, with both qualifying directly for the semi-finals on Tuesday.

The Men’s Hockey team faced the ultimate test against reigning Olympic champions Belgium in their opening game ultimately losing 2-0.

In swimming Ellen Walshe raced in the heats of the 100m butterfly finishing 22nd overall, with the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team placing 16th overall in their event; notably the first Irish female relay to compete in over fifty years.

In Equestrian, the Eventing team got underway with the dressage element. Sarah Ennis and Susie Berry performed in their respective tests, with the last of the trio Austin O’Connor in action later.

 Rowing

The Men’s Double of Phil Doyle and Daire Lynch set the tone on a positive note, finishing with a comfortable win in the last of the three heats. The top three crews gained direct qualification into the semi-finals, meaning Doyle and Lynch have now bypassed tomorrow mornings Repechage.

Speaking afterwards Philip Doyle said: ‘It was good, we got a lot of confidence from it, it was nice to just work on our race and then we came through in the middle just as we had planned. We knew that they would come off hot, and we just focused on ourselves and worked through the middle.

“Daire made some nice calls to push in the middle and we just started moving away from the other boats and that just gave us more confidence and then we kind of knew it was done and sealed from the 1500. It’s only the first step of three, so we just need to take some confidence from this going forward and bring that into the Semi-final.”

Olympic debutants Fermoy’s Alison Bergin and Killorglin’s Zoe Hyde advanced directly into the Women’s Double semi-finals after a third-place finish in their heat. Bergin, 2023 U23 World Silver medallist, sitting in stroke of the boat led the Irish double through the race, winding it up as they came through 1,300 metres.

Sitting in fourth place through the opening half of the race, Alison and Zoe needed to make a move to get into the top three qualification places. Doing just that, Ireland stepped up in the second half, cruising through to qualify for Tuesday morning’s semi-finals.

Hockey

Despite a battling defensive performance, Ireland Men’s Hockey opened their Paris 2024 campaign with a 2-0 defeat to defending Olympic champions Belgium at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, the original site of the 1924 Olympic stadium.

The Irish side; captained by Seán Murray, returned to the Olympic stage for the first time since Rio 2016 and produced a determined display against the world’s third-ranked side, but Belgium’s superior possession and territory eventually told on the scoreboard, as Tom Boon and Alexander Hendrickx notched goals in the second and third quarters.

Ireland battled resolutely until the final hooter; goalkeeper David Harte producing a string of brilliant saves, and there will be plenty of positives for Tumilty and his players heading into Monday’s crucial Pool B encounter against world number #4 Australia at 9am Irish time. The Irish team have a world ranking of #11.

Head Coach Mark Tumilty said after the game:

“It was a difficult start but Belgium were very well set up today and we probably struggled to break them down. At the same time, we defended well and while they had a lot of opportunities in the final third, our defence stood up to that and our goalkeeper was excellent. Australia next up will be a challenge as well as they can play the game a number of different ways and we need to be better with the ball.”

 Swimming

Swimming got underway with Ellen Walshe and Ireland Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay diving into action on the opening morning. In the 100m Butterfly, Ellen Walshe, competing in her second Olympic Games, clocked 58.70 for sixth place in her heat.

Speaking after the race the Templeogue swimmer said

‘I don’t think the time is great but considering I’m trying to race the 400m (Individual Medley) on Monday, I have to keep a bit of mileage in my belt and my legs a bit fresh too; but it felt good going in and I just enjoyed it to be honest, it was great to be out there and first up for Ireland.”

Walshe’s main events come later in the week with the 400m Individual Medley on Monday and 200m Individual Medley on Friday.

Érin Riordan, Victoria Catterson and Grace Davison, making their Olympic debuts, joined Tokyo Olympian Danielle Hill in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay, Ireland’s first female relay at a Games since Munich 1972. The quartet were just outside the Irish record of 3:41.75 in 3:42.67, for eighth in their heat, after a great battle with Hong Kong in the next lane who touched just ahead in 3:42.42.

Equestrian

Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M began Ireland’s Team Eventing competition with a dressage score of 38.0 at the Palace of Versailles this morning. Fourth into the arena, Ennis looked to be on her way to a score in the low to mid 30s before the 10-year-old mare, competing at her first Olympics, made a slight error in front of the big screen.

It means that the combination will have work hard in tomorrow’s cross-country phase to make up ground ahead of Monday’s show jumping.

Commenting on her opening phase Olympic experience, Sarah Ennis admitted:

“When she came to the bottom of the arena she was in awe. The trot work was very nice but it’s that corner – and even when I went in there the other day, I was riding square into the corner. “Maybe it’s the big screen, the cameras or the clocks but she spotted something. She’s a sharp mare – not sharp that she would do anything to you but she’d have a look. I call her the gawker, once she spots something she’s locked into it, you can’t soften her. “She saw the cameras moving across the diagonal and she just stopped on me but she’s only 10 – very young and she’s an incredible mare – and it’s her first Olympics, she’ll get used to it and grow from it and will get another one when she’s 14 so I’m very proud of her. I love her!

Ireland’s second Eventing rider Susie Berry was very satisfied with her dressage test, scoring 33.0 on board Wellfields Lincoln. The Banbridge 28-year-old, who is making her Olympic debut, admitted that there was a different feel to the competition – and even Wellfields Lincoln knew that there was something extra special about the Games:

“It’s a surreal experience but I’m thrilled with him – he can be a spooky horse but he felt quite alert today. It was like he knew there was something different about today. His trot work felt beautiful in there and maybe in his canter he felt a little tense through his back so we maybe lost a few moves that would ordinarily come naturally to him.

“It’s his first time being in an atmosphere like that so I’m very happy with him. It’s very dense in there, very atmospheric, and the grandstands are so tall that the horses seem to be looking up a lot, but it’s an incredible arena.”

Saturday, 27th July 2024 Team Ireland Results

Equestrian, Eventing – team and individual Dressage, Sarah Ennis, score of 38.00

Men’s Hockey, Pool B, Ireland 0 – 2 Belgium

Swimming, Women’s 100m Butterfly heats, Ellen Walshe 6th in 58.70, finished 22nd overall

Rowing, Men’s Double Sculls (M2x), Philip Doyle & Daire Lynch, won heat in 6:13.24, through to semi-finals

Rowing, Women’s Double Sculls (W2x), Zoe Hyde & Alison Bergin, 3rd in heat in 6:52.61, through to semi-finals

Swimming, Women’s 4x100m Freestyle, Danielle Hill, Erin Riordan, Grace Davison & Victoria Catterson, 8th in heat in 3:42.67, finished 16th overall

Equestrian, Eventing – team and individual Dressage, Susie Berry, score of 33.00

The post Saturday morning news and reaction from Paris 2024 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

In the qualifiers last Thursday, Edenderry’s Crampton threw a personal best on his first throw, achieving automatic qualification for the final.

His first throw in Saturday’s final was another personal best of 58.32m. This placed him in second place in the opening round of six throws. Over the following rounds, the Hungarian, Zsombor Dobo pushed him to third, and with two throws to go, Crampton dropped to fourth place, following a huge performance from David Jarolimek (CZE).

On his fifth throw, the Irish thrower moved back into the medal positions, throwing a metre further than his previous best, with 59.32m.

His final effort was disqualified, but he had done enough to secure the bronze medal, with France’s Samuel Conjungo-Taumhas taking gold.

Crampton said of the competition:

“I knew I had to go for it if I wanted anything, and I did, and I got the result I wanted. The last one that hit the cage I knew it would have gone out further, I could feel it, but it’s in the cage now anyway.”

Discussing his medal success, the second Ireland won at this edition of the EYOF, the Offaly native admitted:

“I’m ecstatic, to say the least. I knew I could do it all along, but going out and doing it is the hardest thing. I have seen in training that I can do those numbers and being able to do it in a competition is something else. To be able to do it for the whole Irish team and everyone else is just amazing.”

“I knew I had to do something to get it. I told my mother a few weeks ago that I would get a medal for her, and now I have, and I’ve made her very proud I think.”

Since 1991 Team Ireland has won 72 medals at the EYOF.

The next edition of the EYOF will be in Skopje, North Macedonia, in the summer of 2025.

The post Cian Crampton wins discus bronze at European Youth Olympics appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Clogher rider was second in the Boy’s Time Trial, becoming the first male to win a cycling medal for Team Ireland at the EYOF.

The 16-year-old finished the 10km race in a time of 12:55.38, with only the Dutch rider, Gijs Schoonvelde, going faster. Co

Afterwards, the surprised and proud Cúchulainn CC rider spoke about his race, admitting:

“It feels amazing, I can’t really believe it to be honest. The course was pan-flat and a case of just going as hard as you could. I really wasn’t expecting it, I was hoping top 25-ish, and I just came over the line and I couldn’t believe what the man on the mic was saying.”

Coached by international racer Bryan McCrystal, Murphy normally competes on the mountain bike, and came into the event not knowing what to expect.

“Byran’s been great to me giving me advice for the Time Trial,” the silver medallist said. “I can’t thank him enough has really helped me, he even lent me his bike for the race. I think everyone will be pretty proud in Louth now. I’m in disbelief now but I think I will believe it when I get it in my hands and see it hanging on the wall at home. It’s a nice way to start the week, we will just give it a go on the mountain bike tomorrow.”

The only other cyclist to have won a medal for Team Ireland at the EYOF is Lara Gillespie, who won a silver medal in the Girl’s Time Trial in Gyor 2017.

David Gaffney and Philip O’Connor were also competing in the same race, finishing 18^th and 43^rd respectively.

The Girl’s Time Trial saw Killarney’s Kate Murphy finish in 27^th position, ahead of Greta Lawless in 40^th place.

The post Cyclist Conor Murphy Wins Silver at European Youth Olympics appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Irish team, managed by Michael Blake, has been drawn second last to jump in the seven-team competition.

USA will be the first team to enter the Main Arena at the RDS, followed by Norway, Brazil, Netherlands, France, Ireland and Switzerland.

Team Ireland will jump in the following order:

Down’s Conor Swail with Count Me In will be the pathfinders for the home side.

Tipperary’s Max Wachman with Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z will be the next Irish combination into the Main Arena.

The penultimate combination will be US-based Corkman Shane Sweetnam with The Irish Sport Horse James Kann Kruz.

Former Olympic medallist, Meath’s Cian O’Connor, will take the anchor leg for Michael Blake’s team with another Irish Sport Horse, Kilkenny.

Ireland will be among five teams competing for Longines Nations Cup points in the RDS Main Arena tomorrow.

Dublin is also a scoring event for France, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. USA and Brazil will also field a team but will not be eligible for points.

The Longines Nations Cup of Ireland gets underway at 3pm on Friday.

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The event will be live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Players as Michael Blake’s Irish team chase points in Europe’s top division.

Irish Show Jumping team manager Michael Blake has named his four team members, with Ireland drawn first too jump of the eight teams.

Derry’s Daniel Coyle with Legacy will be the pathfinders. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights will be next into the main arena for Ireland. Another Tipperary man Trevor Breen with Highland President will be the team’s third representative in the class. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (ISH) will be on the anchor leg.

Ireland will compete against The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden and Britain today.

Italy will also be among the starters but as a non-Division 1 team are not eligible for league points. The home Dutch team are defending champions, with Ireland’s last win in Rotterdam coming in 2000.

Ireland’s first points-scoring round in Europe Division 1 saw them collect 70 league points following a fourth place finish at Sopot in Poland.

Ireland’s remaining points scoring opportunities after today will be at Hickstead on July 29th and Ireland’s home Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show on Friday August 19^th. Both of these Longines FEI Nations Cup competitions will also be broadcast live on RTÉ.

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Although Ireland is a very cold and wet nation, it is not traditionally very snowy and it may surprise many that we have a strong winter sports program.

Born in Donegal, raised in Clare, schooled at King's Hos, Ireland's downhill skier Pat McMillan (@mcwindy) is raring to go at the Winter Olympics. pic.twitter.com/kNuEE2ACWz

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 10, 2018

Where it all began

We officially began our icy journey back in 1988 when English-born businessman Larry Tracey became infatuated with the sport of bobsleigh. Both his parents were Irish and after getting lessons from his wife, he wished to make a team to travel to the Games in Calgary.

Although they qualified, the Irish Olympic Council withdrew the team 10 days before the competitions start. A court injunction could not help with Tracey’s dream and he would have to wait four more years.

Ireland sent two pair-bobsleigh teams to Albertville made of Pat McDonagh and Terry McHugh as well as Gerry Macken and Malachy Sheridan. These teams would go on to finish 32nd and 38th out of 46 crews in an impressive debut for Tracey’s men.

Team Ireland would then continue to send between four and six athletes to all of the subsequent Winter Games.

In 1994, we sent our first four-man sleigh team and skiing competitor.

The Salt Lake City Games in 2002 would be Ireland’s most successful and storied competition. Tamsen McGarry was our first female athlete at the games and at 43 years old, Paul O’Connor was not just the first cross-country skier but also the oldest ever competitor in that event.

Most notable was Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley, 14th Baronet, 6th Baron Wrottesley who competed in the skeleton. He became a small celebrity after finishing in fourth place, 0.42 seconds off a medal in the event. He would later become a successful coach of the Irish team in later years.

In 2010, Ireland sent their first women’s bobsleigh team to the Vancouver Games. Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin would finish in a very respectable 17th place.

At the 2014 Sochi Games in Russia, Utahn Seamus O’Connor was the first Irish athlete to debut in the snowboarding events. He would rank 17th overall in the slopestyle and 15th in the halfpipe.

Cork-born Bubba Newton became the first qualifier in freestyle skiing at the last Winter Games in Pyeongchang.

The Ireland Winter Olympics team parading at today's opening ceremony. Best of luck to all involved. #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/o47lDuvwza

— Snooker Fans Ireland (@SportsFansEire) February 7, 2014

Who are our athletes with the next chance to win a medal?

Now there are a few athletes preparing and qualifying for our eighth edition of the Winter Olympics, next year in China.

There are currently three Irish athletes qualified for the next Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The IOC will send two athletes (man and woman) as part of the Alpine skiing team and one man as part of Cross-country skiing.

The Beijing 2022 Games will commence on the 4th of February until the 20th of February.

With less than 250 days to the Winter Olympics I am pushing myself as hard as possible and finding new heights from within.

Help Ireland get to the Beijing winter games by donating to the link below, your help goes further than you think https://t.co/uUu3moDKCC pic.twitter.com/3Zqd8iLbzw

— Brendan Doyle (@facedoyle) June 2, 2021

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish sports news, click here.

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BOOM!! 3rd medal of the #Paralympics for @KatieGDunlevy & @evemccrystal !! https://t.co/v3b4FOUikF

— Jacqui Hurley (@jacquihurley) September 3, 2021

Katie George-Dunleavy, Eve McCrystal – Women’s B Road Race

This has already been an amazing Paralympics for the Irish pair having won gold already earlier in the week. After hearing the national anthem while atop the podium, the two seemed excited to do it again.

This tough race set off at 05:00 this morning Irish time. Dunleavy and McCrystal showed their strength on the road in the time trial and this would be no difference and they continuously stayed near the top of the pack with its changing leaders and bursts from behind.

Just before the halfway mark of the 92.4km race, the Irish pair had themselves in a great position in the leading pack with the damp conditions not affecting them.

The race became more hectic in the final 12km lap. The Irish women were in the top three, competing with Team GB and the Swedish athletes.

They showed their true quality and fitness to break out in front over the last few kilometers. They brought the gold medal home in the Road Race with a time of 2:35:53.

This is now their third medal at these Paralympic Games and it marks them as one of the greatest tandem teams to compete in the sport.

GOLD Go on @KatieGDunlevy & @evemccrystal #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/73bbTabt0r

— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) September 3, 2021

Ronan Grimes – Men’s C4-5 Road Race

The Galway man was one of 25 riders in this long 92 km race. He came in this event searching for silverware with this being his third and final event.

Grimes’ race set off at 01:30 Irish time, with all racers going at a hectic pace to make it to the top and set the tempo.

As the race progressed, the Irishman had dropped to the back of the main group of riders, it was clear that this event is harder for cyclists without a partner from the same nation.

Grimes finished the race in 11th position with a time of 2:29:21

Richael Timothy – Women’s C1-3 Road Race

Timothy started only six minutes after Grimes’ event as she lined up with 14 other riders. This was the Irish woman’s fourth race at a busy Paralympics having broken personal bests in earlier events

Using some good riding, she remained off the top group of cyclists for the majority of the race. The tough wet conditions made it hard for each rider, making the race much more compact and steadier.

The 26-year-old finished the race in the 11th position with a time of 1:21:22.

As Ronan prepares for the off here is Richael Timothy on the rollers. #ParaCycling #paralympics #TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/SZnjaB4Juk

— Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) September 3, 2021

Martin Gordon, Aidan Byrne – Men’s B Road Race

This was set to be a long and tough race for the Irish pair lining up against some top-class opponents. This would be the pair’s fourth and final event at these Paralympic Games.

Unfortunately, today was not going to be the glory finish for the Irish tandem team as the weather conditions continued to get worse. The heavy downpour of rain led to Gordon and Byrne withdrawing a little over two hours into the race.

It is not the ending that the Sligo and Dublin men would have wanted but they leave these Games after breaking personal best times and setting a new Irish record.

Also in #ParaCycling Martin Gordon and Eamonn Byrne finished fifth in the B 1000m Time Trial Final following their PB time of 1:01.545.@AllianzIreland #Tokyo2020 #TeamIreland #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/QDaITnefQS

— Pundit Arena (@PunditArena) August 28, 2021

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Patrick Flanagan – S6 100m Backstroke Heat 2

This is Flanagan’s second race of his debut Paralympic games. Yesterday he finished in seventh place in the 400m Freestyle.

This morning, the Sligo man was hoping to build on that performance in the Backstroke. After watching a very strong opening heat, Flanagan would take part in the second race.

#ParaSwimming Patrick Flanagan becomes a Paralympian at #Tokyo2020 – Patrick finished 7th place in the S6 400 Freestyle with a time of 5:40.48.

He will return to action tomorrow for the S6 100m Backstroke.#TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/xSxnnWmVir

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 2, 2021

The Irish swimmer started the race in the water in lane seven with six other very strong swimmers. The outside lanes are normally the hardest places to start a race and he struggled to keep up with the leaders in the beginning.

Flanagan started to speed up before the only turn and he jumped up to fifth place. He held his position for the remainder of the race, not able to find the extra gear needed to scare the event favorites.

The Irishman hit the wall in a time of 1:26.81, this was unfortunately not enough for him to progress to the finals later today.

#ParaSwimming Patrick Flanagan wrapped up #Tokyo2020 for #TeamIreland Swim Team this morning

Patrick swam a time of 1:26.81 in the S6 100m Backstroke Heat. #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/mCn61MxKXQ

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 3, 2021

The end of the event concludes Flanagan’s Paralympic journey in Tokyo but as a young debutant, he still has many years ahead of him and Paris is only three years away.

He has done his coach David Malone and the people of Rosses point proud with two strong races as part of a historic Irish Paralympic team.

The post Paralympic Swimming: Ireland’s last swimmer misses out on final appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Pat O’Leary – Men’s 200m KL3 semifinal

This is Pat O’Leary’s third race at the Paralympic Games. His journey began yesterday as he competed well in two opening heats, the Va’a and the Kayak.

He finished in fifth place in his heat for this event the last day but knows he will need to kick it up a notch to qualify for the final. The 48-year-old will want to improve on his best Paralympic result after finishing in sixth place overall in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

#ThrowbackThursday
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⁣Pat O’Leary in action during the KL3 200m Final at Lagoa Stadium during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Patrick was the first Irish canoeist to compete at a Paralympic Games
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⁣#TeamIreland #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/q7bjoR2pX5

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) October 15, 2020

He started this short, fast race in lane three with five other racers. The top three racers would qualify for the A final while the next three would to put in the B final.

The race got off to a hectic start with each paddle forcing the water back and the kayaks glided over the water. O’Leary maintained a strong speed that kept him in touching distance with the fastest racers.

Unfortunately, the Cork man’s impressive performance was not enough to qualify for the A final only half a second behind Germany’s Tom Kierey.

He finished in fourth place with a time of 42.203 and would go into the B final.

#ParaCanoe | #TeamIreland

Pat O'Leary #TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/ixlK2EPugl

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 1, 2021

There was very little turnaround between the semifinals and finals. Only an hour later, O’Leary lined out in lane four as one of the fastest competitors in the race.

He finished this race in a time of 42.416 seconds and this meant that he finished in an overall position of ninth for the kayak event.

It was a good day for O’Leary but he will hope to go one step further as he goes into the Va’a semifinals tomorrow morning.

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