Road to Tokyo 2020 - Irish Olympic News

DJIMI TRARORE

FcuKing brilliant from the 7s

Lost Ormond

28-12


7s are going to Tokyo!!

Skid X

That's an amazing result, Ireland's Rugby Sevens was an afterthought until the last few years.

Lost Ormond

Finished 28-19

Huge considering how we only started back playing 7s 5 years ago back in europe division C

Strazdas

Lost Ormond wrote: »

28-12


7s are going to Tokyo!!

Fantastic effort and result!

I had a hunch that France playing at home and with qualification on the line might just go against them....that's a huge amount of pressure (with far less on Ireland). But a great performance from our guys, sounds like they played the game of their lives.

Cosmo Kramer

That's just outstanding from the 7s lads. Jordan Conroy is going to be one of the stars of the Irish Olympics team. They've been working away for the last few years building their reputation while earning a fraction of what the 15s players earn. They really deserve this and are going to be great fun to follow at the Olympics.

Also that means we're looking at a Olympic team of well over a hundred competitors, probably somewhere around 110. Our biggest ever squad by a mile and quite a few decent medal hopes in there too.

The Olympics better not be cancelled now...!

Strazdas

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That's just outstanding from the 7s lads. Jordan Conroy is going to be one of the stars of the Irish Olympics team. They've been working away for the last few years building their reputation while earning a fraction of what the 15s players earn. They really deserve this and are going to be great fun to follow at the Olympics.

Also that means we're looking at a Olympic team of well over a hundred competitors, probably somewhere around 110. Our biggest ever squad by a mile and quite a few decent medal hopes in there too.

The Olympics better not be cancelled now...!

Just been watching it back on Youtube, our guys played really well and totally deserved the win.

As you say, they look a real bunch of characters in their interviews - this year's O'Donovan brothers perhaps

Lost Ormond

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That's just outstanding from the 7s lads. Jordan Conroy is going to be one of the stars of the Irish Olympics team. They've been working away for the last few years building their reputation while earning a fraction of what the 15s players earn. They really deserve this and are going to be great fun to follow at the Olympics.

Also that means we're looking at a Olympic team of well over a hundred competitors, probably somewhere around 110. Our biggest ever squad by a mile and quite a few decent medal hopes in there too.

The Olympics better not be cancelled now...!

Yeah worked hard for very little while on the european circuit and when they werent even getting invites to world series.

Huge that we'll have over 100 at an Olympics

Strazdas wrote: »

Just been watching it back on Youtube, our guys played really well and totally deserved the win.

As you say, they look a real bunch of characters in their interviews - this year's O'Donovan brothers perhaps

There is a few big characters alright. And huge for rugby itself as many of the guys were directed to 7s after being dropped from the 15s academies or pro squads.

Chivito550

Would be good to have a list of medal hopes for those of us who may not be up to speed on some of the sports.

Would one of you great folk be able to list our medal chances across the various categories:

1) Really strong medal hopes - greater than 50% chance of a medal
2) Decent medal hopes - greater than 25% chance of a medal
3) Outside medal hopes - less than 25% chance of a medal

Dodge

I’ll do a longer post closer to the games but the following should medal if they aren’t injured or suffer some freak condition

O’Donovan and McCarthy in lightweight rowing. Should win gold

Sanita Puspure. Will likely be robbed by the new doping Russian but should win a medal

Rhys McClenaghan in gymnastics. Falls happen but if he stays up, he’ll win a medal

Kellie Harrington will be seeded and should medal given an OK draw

Men’s double sculls and women’s 4 have a chance in rowing. Our eventing and show jumping teams (and individuals) have a chance. Kurt Walker, Aoife O’Rourke and Michaela Walsh all have a chance in boxing

Outside chances include Jack Wooley taekwondo, the Fletcher siblings in Judo, cycling road race (and maybe Emily Kay in the omnium) and maybe even the rugby team now. The women’s hockey team might 0-0 their way to a medal again but unlikely…

Our golfers could be in with a shout too of course

Strazdas

Dodge wrote: »

I’ll do a longer post closer to the games but the following should medal if they aren’t injured or suffer some freak condition

O’Donovan and McCarthy in lightweight rowing. Should win gold

Sanita Puspure. Will likely be robbed by the new doping Russian but should win a medal

Rhys McClenaghan in gymnastics. Falls happen but if he stays up, he’ll win a medal

Kellie Harrington will be seeded and should medal given an OK draw

Men’s double sculls and women’s 4 have a chance in rowing. Our eventing and show jumping teams (and individuals) have a chance. Kurt Walker, Aoife O’Rourke and Michaela Walsh all have a chance in boxing

Outside chances include Jack Wooley taekwondo, the Fletcher siblings in Judo, cycling road race (and maybe Emily Kay in the omnium) and maybe even the rugby team now. The women’s hockey team might 0-0 their way to a medal again but unlikely…

Our golfers could be in with a shout too of course

I think Kellie Harrington will be in the running for a gold, providing she gets a decent draw and avoids any mishaps. She looked phenomenal in Paris, easily the best and most skilful boxer on the Irish team.

Dodge

Strazdas wrote: »

I think Kellie Harrington will be in the running for a gold, providing she gets a decent draw and avoids any mishaps. She looked phenomenal in Paris, easily the best and most skilful boxer on the Irish team.

She’s the best in Europe but the world champion is from Brazil and Asia has 2 very strong medal contenders. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her win gold but she’s not the slam dunk the lightweight rowers are

dr.kenneth noisewater

Any chance of a medal on the track?

Dodge

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

Any chance of a medal on the track?

Hugely unlikely. Barr is our best chance really but I’d be stunned

On best form Mageean could make the 1,500m final. Maybe Sarah Healy could sneak into it as she progresses into the senior ranks

DJIMI TRARORE

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote:

Any chance of a medal on the track?

Cycling track maybe 😊

Oldira

Dodge wrote: »

I’ll do a longer post closer to the games but the following should medal if they aren’t injured or suffer some freak condition

O’Donovan and McCarthy in lightweight rowing. Should win gold

Sanita Puspure. Will likely be robbed by the new doping Russian but should win a medal

Rhys McClenaghan in gymnastics. Falls happen but if he stays up, he’ll win a medal

Kellie Harrington will be seeded and should medal given an OK draw

Men’s double sculls and women’s 4 have a chance in rowing. Our eventing and show jumping teams (and individuals) have a chance. Kurt Walker, Aoife O’Rourke and Michaela Walsh all have a chance in boxing

Outside chances include Jack Wooley taekwondo, the Fletcher siblings in Judo, cycling road race (and maybe Emily Kay in the omnium) and maybe even the rugby team now. The women’s hockey team might 0-0 their way to a medal again but unlikely…

Our golfers could be in with a shout too of course

Analise Murphy tends to come in under the radar come the Olympics. Would certainly have her as an outside chance. Natalya Coyle also would fit in that category.

Dodge

Oldira wrote: »

Analise Murphy tends to come in under the radar come the Olympics. Would certainly have her as an outside chance. Natalya Coyle also would fit in that category.

Yeah. Absolutely. Even the other sailors have an outside chance. They’re very much in the ascendency

flynng

What in the name of God have FINA been up to? It would seem that have made an absolute balls of the qualification processes for both Diving and the Swimming relays? Any of you guys know how it will all pan out?

Dodge

flynng wrote: »

What in the name of God have FINA been up to? It would seem that have made an absolute balls of the qualification processes for both Diving and the Swimming relays? Any of you guys know how it will all pan out?

The swimming relays is straight forward enough. It’ll either be Ireland and Switzerland as a 17th team in two separate relays or not. No idea if they’ll allow that

The diving will only become clear as teams are selected. We want, and need, as many divers selected for both the synchro events and the individual

It looks like Tanya Watson is safe enough. Oliver Dingley is borderline

Chivito550

Dodge wrote: »

Hugely unlikely. Barr is our best chance really but I’d be stunned

On best form Mageean could make the 1,500m final. Maybe Sarah Healy could sneak into it as she progresses into the senior ranks

No real chance for Barr. There's 5 lads head and shoulders above the rest, and the event is ridiculously stacked, with the guys operating at new levels.

There's 3 spots left in that final and Barr has every chance of nabbing one of them. Back to back Olympic finals on the track for an Irish sprinter would be an astonishing accomplishment.

Best chance of a medal in athletics is Brendan Boyce tbh (still a very remote chance). The 50k Walk can become a bit of a lottery in the heat, and Boyce handled it better than most in Doha. Think he'd have preferred it to stay in Tokyo, rather than be moved to Sapporo.

Oldira

Dodge wrote: »

The swimming relays is straight forward enough. It’ll either be Ireland and Switzerland as a 17th team in two separate relays or not. No idea if they’ll allow that

The diving will only become clear as teams are selected. We want, and need, as many divers selected for both the synchro events and the individual

It looks like Tanya Watson is safe enough. Oliver Dingley is borderline

If the divers that made the top 18 at the Final World Cup don't get a place there will be appeals and legal action. The qualifying documents states that the top 18 WILL qualify. FINA themselves stated Watson and Dingley had qualified.
With the relays I would hold out less hope. The Medley team finished outside the qualification places and were invited in error which was quickly rescinded. If Brendan Hyland qualifies this week then its a moot point as all four swimmers on the team will be there in any case.

Dodge

Qualifying a relay allows you to bring additional swimmers too (1 per relay effectively)

Strazdas

Dodge wrote: »

She’s the best in Europe but the world champion is from Brazil and Asia has 2 very strong medal contenders. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her win gold but she’s not the slam dunk the lightweight rowers are

Indeed, but Europe has completely dominated the World Championships at lightweight for the last 15 years and Harrington only missed those championships because of a hand injury.

Dodge

Strazdas wrote: »

Indeed, but Europe has completely dominated the World Championships at lightweight for the last 15 years and Harrington only missed those championships because of a hand injury.

2018 - 3 of 4 medalists for Asia. Only 3 of the 8 QF from Europe
2019 - 2 medalists from America’s, 1 from Asia. Only 3 of 8 QFs from Europe

They’re the only ones that matter as they’re the people involved in Tokyo. Going back 15 years means nothing tbh

Kellie is number one seed and rightly so but anyone expecting this to be an easy gold medal hasn’t been paying attention

Strazdas

Dodge wrote: »

2018 - 3 of 4 medalists for Asia. Only 3 of the 8 QF from Europe
2019 - 2 medalists from America’s, 1 from Asia. Only 3 of 8 QFs from Europe

They’re the only ones that matter as they’re the people involved in Tokyo. Going back 15 years means nothing tbh

Kellie is number one seed and rightly so but anyone expecting this to be an easy gold medal hasn’t been paying attention

Not 'easy' : she could run into a string of high ranked seeds throughout the tournament, have a dodgy decision go against her etc. But given her CV, I'd say she and the team would be disappointed with a bronze medal (or no medal at all), she's clearly better than that.

Cosmo Kramer

The show jumping and eventing teams have been named but a decision has been taken not to send a dressage team even though we qualified - the team that achieved qualification fell apart unfortunately and there doesn't seem to be enough competitors of a good enough standard to take their place. However there may be an individual place offered to Ireland and that would be accepted.

Strazdas

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry confirmed as our two men's golfers in Tokyo. Great to have such illustrious names on board the team.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2021/0622/1230731-mcilroy-lowry-confirmed-as-irish-duo-at-tokyo-olympics/

Cosmo Kramer

Hopefully that is as confirmed and they both compete in Tokyo. Possibly we need to wait for the Irish Olympic Team to confirm them as they both pulled out last time. Quite a few of the bigger names have dropped out in the last week or two and I'd say a few more will also - Xander Schauffele for instance although named is apparently still undecided as to whether he will compete. Would be great to have them both there and with so many Americans ruled out by the qualification process it increases their medal prospects. However McIlroy has already gone on record as saying he'll be competing for himself rather than for Ireland if he takes part, which isn't a great attitude really.

One more event before the women's golfers are confirmed - Maguire and Meadow will both be in for us there as long as they are happy to travel to Tokyo, Maguire is in particularly good form at the moment.

Dodge

The 2 lads haven’t been confirmed. Not sure why RTE and others have said that. The published list has some withdrawals in it. 4 possible replacements if they pull out (don’t expect them to)

The 2 women are safe on qualifying too

Oldira

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Hopefully that is as confirmed and they both compete in Tokyo. Possibly we need to wait for the Irish Olympic Team to confirm them as they both pulled out last time. Quite a few of the bigger names have dropped out in the last week or two and I'd say a few more will also - Xander Schauffele for instance although named is apparently still undecided as to whether he will compete. Would be great to have them both there and with so many Americans ruled out by the qualification process it increases their medal prospects. However McIlroy has already gone on record as saying he'll be competing for himself rather than for Ireland if he takes part, which isn't a great attitude really.

One more event before the women's golfers are confirmed - Maguire and Meadow will both be in for us there as long as they are happy to travel to Tokyo, Maguire is in particularly good form at the moment.

I don’t think Padraig Harrington would like that attitude fromRory in the Ryder Cup.