Michael Scully’s big medal hopes
RHYS MCCLENAGHAN (Gymnastics)
Dubbed the Prince of the Pommel after winning his second World Championships crown last year to go with his three European titles. Wants to make up for that slip in Tokyo that cost him a medal.
PAUL O’DONOVAN/FINTAN MCCARTHY
(Rowing) With no lightweight category at LA 2028, the ultra-talented Cork duo (right) want to finish this glorious Olympic chapter with back-to-back golds and have a great chance of doing so in the coming days.
RHASIDAT ADELEKE (400m hurdles)
Went pro last summer and so, after a big focus on a successful NCAAS campaign in 2023, the Tallaght athlete (right) has been able to put her full focus on the Games. Fourth in the 2023 Worlds and earned silver in this summer’s Europeans. Serious potential.
KELLIE HARRINGTON
(Boxing) This is it for the 34-year-old, the end of the line at international level. Can she go out on the ultimate high? It has been a tough few years for the Tokyo golden girl and, while her elite quality is still in evidence, it’s all about her mentality now. DANIEL WIFFEN (Swimming) Used Tokyo as his stepping off point and has come to Paris as a serious podium contender after smashing the longest surviving short course world record last December. Wiffen (right) later picked up two long course World titles but will face a tougher field.
RORY MCILROY
(Men’s Golf)
Finally fell for the Olympic concept in Tokyo and, in the intense heat, was gutted not to force his way into a play-off for bronze. It has been a turbulent summer on and off the course for the Holywood man – but it would be just like him to pull something special out of the bag.
MICHAELA WALSH
(Boxing) Was present to watch her brother Aidan win bronze in 2021, her own disappointment at not getting to the medal fights tempered by her sibling’s joy. Now wants to make these Games her own.
AIFRIC KEOGH/FIONA MURTAGH (Rowing)
Part of the women’s four team that won Tokyo bronze. In a bid to qualify a women’s pair for Paris, the Galwegians were tried out late in the process and clicked. They qualified the boat in the
2023 World Championships, where they finished fourth.
AOIFE O’ROURKE (Boxing)
At 24, O’rourke was Ireland’s youngest boxer in Tokyo. The Roscommon middleweight has won two European Championship golds and also won the European Games last year and is backed by many in the know to go all the
way.
SHANE LOWRY (Men’s Golf) Wears his heart on his sleeve and, having fulfilled the dream of playing on a winning Ryder Cup team, nothing would give the Offaly man more joy than to make the podium in Paris. After coming close in The Open last weekend, his flag bearer experience in Paris could inspire him to greater heights.
LEONA MAGUIRE
(Women’s Golf)
Never better than when she has a cause to play for, as she showed in her first two Solheim Cups.
Maguire (left) has two Olympics banked in terms of experience already and, with a new caddy on the bag, will be hoping to make history once more.
FINN LYNCH (Sailing)
Ranked fifth in the world, the Carlow man competed in Rio as the youngest competitor in his class but didn’t make it to Tokyo, and has been a multi-event winner since then. Rising star and underage world champion Eve Mcmahon is another to watch if she makes it to Paris.
CIARA MAGEEAN
(1500m)
Has her work cut out in a stacked field but has a huge heart and desire to make podiums for Ireland, as she showed in winning gold in the Europeans in Rome. Mageean (left) is running faster than ever before and will believe she can achieve greatness.
SHOWJUMPING TEAM
Tokyo three years ago was a disaster for Ireland’s equestrian hopefuls with the team withdrawing after the first rider was eliminated after his horse fell. This time it should be different with team manager Michael Blake driving consistent success since then using a stable of different riders.