[JohnnyBananas]

Hi All,

What are peoples opinions on where Ireland is most likely to win a medal at the 2012 Olympics? My first thoughts would be boxing. I am also aware of an Irish female swimmer and a rowing team. Does anyone have an inkling for any other event?

All opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks In Advance for all responses.

[KevinK]

Katie Taylor would have to be the big one.
Sure some of our make boxers will have a chance also, Paddy Barnes again maybe?

what about Eoin Rheinisch? came 4th in 08, how is he doing?

Whoever qualifies on the equistrian team should have a chance also, hopefully we cab challenge for a team medal also.

Maybe somebody like Nicholas Roche would have a chance in cycling road race, as this seems to be a sport that throws up suprises.

[swim2]

Grainne Murphy should also get one in swimming. Will see how she does in the World championships this summer in China

[Dan man]

Ireland has numerous medal prospects for the London 2012 Olympics, some of whom are genuine gold medal contenders. Here is a list of those who I believe are the most likely to deliver success:

1. Katie Taylor (Women's Lightweight Boxing) Serious Gold Medal Contender
2. Paddy Barnes (Men's Light Flyweight Boxing) Serious Gold Medal Contender
3. Joe Ward/Ken Egan- depending on who qualifies (Men's Light Heavyweight Boxing) Serious Medal Prospect
4. Darren O'Neill (Men's Middleweight Boxing) Medal Prospect
5. John Joe Nevin (Men's Bantamweight Boxing) Good Medal Prospect
6. Grainne Murphy (Swimming-800m Freestyle/400m Free/400m I.M.) Serious Medal Contender, best chance in 800m Freestyle
7. Robert Heffernan (Athletics- 20km/50km Walk) Great Medal Prospect in both events, best chance in 50km Walk
8. Olive Loughnane (Athletics-Women's 20km Walk) Outside Medal Chance depending on form
9. Peter O'Leary & David Burrows (Sailing-Star Class) Great Medal Prospect, capable of topping the podium!
10. Analise Murphy (Sailing-Laser Radial Class) Outside Medal Chance. This young sailor is progressing all the time and is now ranked in the world's top 10. The question is whether London will come a little too early for her.
11. Equestrian- Team Showjumping. They have a good shot at a medal providing they qualify for the Olympics.
12. Equestrian- Individual Showjumping. We have world-class performers in the form of Billy Twomey, Cian O'Connor, Jessica Kurten, Dermott Lennon.

The above list are those who I consider to be our best chances of medals. However, what is exciting for us is that there are plenty of others who have the potential to finish on the podium, depending on their progression in 2011/12. In this category I would include:

• David Gillick (Athletics-400m) He has switched his training regime to Florida,and is now working with the world's best. Gillick may prove to be a very exciting prospect moving forward to London.
• Derval O'Rourke (Athletics-100m Hurdles) If Derval qualifies for the final then she has more than an outside chance, based on her championship pedigree and ability to produce her best on the big stage.
• Aileen Morrison (Women's Triathlon) Aileen is progressing nicely and is consistently finishing in the top 15 in major events. She is definitely one to look out for.
• Lisa Kearney (Judo-48kg) This young judoka is improving all the time and has been consistently beating some of the world's best. Depending on her progression up to London, she might be worth keeping an eye on.
• Martyn Irvine (Track Cycling-Men's Omnium) He is competing in a new event and is showing good potential, consistently finishing in the top 10 in major events.
• Barry Murphy (Swimming-100m Breastroke) He swam a sensational time this March in America and if he can build on this he might be a real exciting prospect come London.
• Claire Lambe & Siobhan McCrohan (Rowing-Lightweight Double Sculls) They are showing potential and if they can build towards 2012 then they will be in the mix.
• Barry Watkins (Canoe Sprint) This young paddler is improving all the time and is already knocking on the door of the world's top 8-10.
• Also, any of our boxers who actually qualify for London must be viewed as medal contenders, considering the strength of Irish boxing at the moment.

Ireland can reasonably expect to win 4/5 medals in London and it is not inconceivable that this tally could go upwards to as many as 7/8 medals. However, this might be a little too optimistic as some athletes may not produce the goods on the big stage. I have not exaggerated our medal prospects and all of those listed are genuine medal contenders. Why not check out some of the athletes and see for yourself!? I was not anywhere near as optimistic prior to the Beijing Games and what is exciting this time round is that there is plenty of back-up if one or two medal hopefuls do not realise their potential and there is always the possibility that one ore two of our athletes may spring a surprise. In terms of gold medals, I am hopeful that Ireland will win at least one and maybe even a couple more.
My prediction (modest): IRL 1GOLD 2SILVER 3BRONZE
Hope this has whet your appetite for July-August 2012.

[Sparks]

I love how no-one's mentioned Derek Burnett or Philip Murphy yet. I guess winning the World Championships (twice in Philip's case) and dozens of World Cup and Continental Championships events in Olympic Shotgun shooting doesn't get reported on much...

[Dan man]

Originally Posted by Sparks

I love how no-one's mentioned Derek Burnett or Philip Murphy yet. I guess winning the World Championships (twice in Philip's case) and dozens of World Cup and Continental Championships events in Olympic Shotgun shooting doesn't get reported on much...

Undoubtedly, whichever shooter gets the nod, should ireland earn a quota spot, has the credentials to do well. Derek is more consistent and has claimed several world cup medals as well as European bronze last year, but Philip has that world champs silver medal from a couple of years ago, 2007 I think. However their event is ultra competitive and it all depends on the performance on the day. I agree though that they are capable of winning a medal on their day.

[Dan man]

U.S.A. Today has relesed their medal predictions for the London 2012 Olympics based on performances at major championships. While it is impossible to predict performances this far out from the Games, it is still interseting reading. At the monment, they have Ireland at a medal total of 1 GOLD (Katie Taylor), 1 SILVER (Olive Loughnane) and 2 Bronze (Paddy Barnes and Kenneth Egan). One major flaw in this model is that it fails to account for upcoming athletes such as Grainne Murphy and Joe Ward because forecasts are made simply on performance at World Championships, World Cups and such. It will update every month so I will keep an eye on it to see how they place our athletes in the run up to the Olympics.

[Dodge]

Optimistic forecasts there dan man but at least you've covered most sports. I don't think we can bank on any of them with Taylor being the only one who's expected to medal.

Such is the vagaries of the boxing draw that even if Barnes is the secod best boxer in the tournament (which he may well be next year), he could draw the favourite and lose in the first round. Don't forget that all 5 Irish boxers lost to the gold medallists in Beijing. We should, at the least, have 5/6 entrants and who knows...

In athletics Loughnane and Heffernan are our best chances but need everythign to go right for them. As ever finals for O'Rourke and Gillick are the aim

In swimming I don't think people should put too much pressure on Grainne Murphy. Sure she's our most exciting talent ever, but European silver and Bronze medals don't neccesarily equate to Olympic medals. This year will tell a lot

Showjumpping really is the sport that has underperformed so much on the world stage for Ireland. of courses we had the Cian O'Connor thing, but with 3/4 ranked in top 20 We really should be challenging for World and Olympic medals every games. Remember its not even guarenteed there'll be an Irish team there

In cycling Irvine isn't really a contender. He should qualify but that will be his limit. In the road race we have 2 genuinely world class performers in Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin. Either could medal if the race goes there way

[Dan man]

I agree with much of your points except for your view that Ireland are only expecting to win one medal next year. If our boxers don't come away with at least two or three alone they will be disappointed. The boxing draw, as you rightly point out, can be very precarious, but the likes of Paddy and the up and coming Joe Ward are capable of beating any opponent. The Worlds in Busan will be a good indicator for us. Katie Taylor, has the misfortune of only one qualifying opportunity which is a travesty in my opinion, but please God she'll stay injury free. Our team showjumpers went to the Worlds last year with great confidence of a medal shot but did not perform at all. They only have one chance now to, but a place in top 7 in Europe should be enough for them to qualify. It will all be much clearer after this summer in terms of our medal chances come London, but it is a good sign that as things are, there are so many who have the potential to medal if everything goes well. I disagree also with your opinion of Martyn Irvine, he is very much a raw athlete at the minute, at least give him another year before you write him off completely.

[Dan man]

[QUOTE=Dodge;71694881]
In swimming I don't think people should put too much pressure on Grainne Murphy. Sure she's our most exciting talent ever, but European silver and Bronze medals don't neccesarily equate to Olympic medals. This year will tell a lot

Actually, when it comes to the 800m freestyle, European women are setting the benchmark, and I think in the Beijing Olympics Europe won all of the women's freestyle events, from what I remember. Grainne should make waves (sorry for the pun) in London. Much much improvement still to come, and that is why she is an exciting prospect. In terms of pressure, Grainne doesn't have any concept of this, she relishes her profession!

[Dodge]

Originally Posted by Dan man

I agree with much of your points except for your view that Ireland are only expecting to win one medal next year. If our boxers don't come away with at least two or three alone they will be disappointed.

Oh I think the men will be expecting medals, but none of them come close to Taylor. Barnes, Ward, O'neill, Nevin etc need a little bit of luck to all claim medals, but Taylor should medal regardless of draw etc.

I disagree also with your opinion of Martyn Irvine, he is very much a raw athlete at the minute, at least give him another year before you write him off completely.

its a fair point. I really, really wish him well. I just think that his event will become more competitive as the Olympics draw closer.

On Murphy, again its fair to say that some Europeans have excelled in the 800m event but last year she was the 4th in the Europeans. I think she can improve, I'm just pointing out that the general Irish sporting public shouldn't be expecting her to win a medal easily.

[Dan man]

Yes, Grainne Murphy finished 2010 as no.10 in the world over the 800m free. A medal certainly will not be easily attained but you can rest assured that 2011 will see her progress even further, and when she finishes her leaving-cert this year, she can devote herself to swimming in the run in to the Olympics. But indeed, your right, it would be pre-emptive and foolish to hang a medal around her neck at this stage but by August 2012 she will likely be a medal favourite.

[Dodge]

Lets hope so.

I think we should keep this thread running in the lead up to London. Sort of like a guide to qualifiers etc.

[Dan man]

Originally Posted by Dodge

Lets hope so.

I think we should keep this thread running in the lead up to London. Sort of like a guide to qualifiers etc.

Agreed, hopefully we will qualify a good portion of athletes this year allowing for them to have a good solid preparation in the run-up to the Games. It would not be ideal for our athletes to have to chase down last-gasp qualification points in remote parts of the globe just a couple of months prior to the Olympics.

[Dodge]

Another good result for Aileen Morrison in the Triathlon. She was ranked 15th in world last month http://www.olympicsport.ie/news/3923...medium=twitter