Road to Tokyo 2020 - Irish Olympic News

Oldira · 17-06-2021 11:27am

Heading into the final furlong of qualification. By my count Team Ireland currently has 90 quotas with the following Sports left:

Rugby Sevens: Qualification Tournament this weekend. Basically between France, Ireland and Samoa. France should be heavy favourites to win the spot but you never know what may happen.

Swimming: Final Trials next week At NAC. A number of swimmers are very close to the qualifying time but in Swimming a tenth of a second is a lot. Hopefully people like Brendan Hyland and Danielle Hill others make it.

Athletics. We have currently 10 athletes in qualifying positions and a few others just outside. There are a few meeting over the next few days and the Nationals next weekend which have good ranking points. Problem is other countries have their NCs too. We could qualify anything from 6 to 12 but my prediction is 8.

Golf: Rankings close at end of month and we have 4 definite qualifiers.

Weightlifting: ( gasp!) Believe it or not we have an outsode chance of qualifying Sean Browne in 81kg class. All depends on wild cards and what other countries do and also if some countries are suspended. Currently at appeal status.

By my reckoning thats it. On the flip side we could lose quotas as follows:

Equestrian: Our Dressage Team has been decimated with 3 of the 4 riders that qualified withdrawing through retirements, injury and pregnancy. Alex Baker has to make a MER and if she cant do we will have to pull out.

Diving: A complete mess by FINA. Too may qualified at the last World Cup and they are way over the number of quotas allotted to diving. Our two divers are not yet confirmed and its possible thy actually wont be allocated spots.

Judo. Ben Fletcher has qualified but he broke his leg in February. In April he said he would be back in time for Tokyo but his Social Media Accounts have gone dark this two months which to me is not a good sign.

Dodge · 17-06-2021 12:07pm

Ben Fletcher is on Instagram all the time, and posts training updates all the time. He still looks uneasy on his feet to me but he isn’t hiding

He posts on stories rather than posts

https://instagram.com/benfletcherjudo92?utm_medium=copy_link

Oldira · 17-06-2021 12:47pm

Dodge wrote: »

Ben Fletcher is on Instagram all the time, and posts training updates all the time. He still looks uneasy on his feet to me but he isn’t hiding

He posts on stories rather than posts

https://instagram.com/benfletcherjudo92?utm_medium=copy_link

I'm no expert on Instagram but I cant find anything this past six weeks.

In any case, hope he's able to compete.

Dodge · 17-06-2021 1:44pm

Oldira wrote: »

I'm no expert on Instagram but I cant find anything this past six weeks.

In any case, hope he's able to compete.

Click into his strories (his profile photo will bring you there). He posted training videos yesterday

Lost Ormond · 19-06-2021 10:53am

Mens 7s rugby team won their opening game against Zimbabwe 31-10
Playing Mexico at 11.12 next

catchup · 19-06-2021 11:03am

Team Ireland announced Rowing Ireland team. As expected.
https://www.rowingireland.ie/olympic-team-official-selection/
Two Gold medal World Champion crews and a Silver medal crew in the mix. And a women’s four coming good at the right time.
ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‘ðŸ»

Lost Ormond · 19-06-2021 4:37pm

Lost Ormond wrote: »

Mens 7s rugby team won their opening game against Zimbabwe 31-10
Playing Mexico at 11.12 next

31-0 win against Mexico and 43-0 against Tonga. Very easy comfortable wins.

Samoa tomorrow before the playoffs. France and Hong Kong are through in the other group and like ourselves and Samoa play each other tomorrow to decide who finishes first and second in each group

Cosmo Kramer · 20-06-2021 10:22am

Today's the day for the men's sevens team. Realistically they have a 33% chance at best of qualifying here, looking at the results yesterday there seems to be very little between Ireland, France and Samoa. If they beat Samoa in the first game at lunchtime their chances should go up a little as that would likely mean a semi final against Hong Kong, who look weaker than the other three semifinalists.

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 12:58pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Today's the day for the men's sevens team. Realistically they have a 33% chance at best of qualifying here, looking at the results yesterday there seems to be very little between Ireland, France and Samoa. If they beat Samoa in the first game at lunchtime their chances should go up a little as that would likely mean a semi final against Hong Kong, who look weaker than the other three semifinalists.

Good win against Samoa. Knew Samoans would be physical but they were even more than i expeccted.
France playing Hong Kong now then its semis after 3 with final just after 6pm

DJIMI TRARORE · 20-06-2021 1:24pm

Cass wrote:

Wonder who released them? Isn't it illegal and punishable by fine, etc?

Do we have to win the final to qualify?

Dodge · 20-06-2021 1:25pm

I think it was always France being huge favourites and Ireland being the only one who *might* beat them

Anyway the Semis are Ireland v Hong Kong, France v Samoa

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 1:32pm

Dodge wrote: »

I think it was always France being huge favourites and Ireland being the only one who *might* beat them

Anyway the Semis are Ireland v Hong Kong, France v Samoa

Samoa will be a handful though even with us beating them 21-7 just there as
theyve such physicality which can be factor if we had to play them again

France will be favourites though and always have been. Theyre the side with most top level experience and being at home as well...

Cosmo Kramer · 20-06-2021 3:45pm

France cruising in their semi final. Will be a big ask to beat them (assuming we beat HK which should be a formality).

DJIMI TRARORE · 20-06-2021 3:53pm

Anyway of watching

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 3:56pm

Will be comfortable enough win against Hong Kong going by first half.

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 3:57pm

DJIMI TRARORE wrote: »

Anyway of watching

World Rugby website is streaming it

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 4:08pm

28-5 win in semi final

All on the final now at 6.06

Strazdas · 20-06-2021 5:06pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

France cruising in their semi final. Will be a big ask to beat them (assuming we beat HK which should be a formality).

I'd say we're in with a shout. It's basically a cup final and Ireland are clearly in the top 2 sides (even if France are favourites) - just need some luck in running and hope we can just about edge it out on the scoreboard.

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 6:23pm

we lead 14-12

3 1/2 minutes to go

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 6:25pm

21-12 lead now. 2 tries from Jordon Conroy

2 minutes to go and France have to score twice so were very close to qualifying!!

DJIMI TRARORE · 20-06-2021 6:26pm

FcuKing brilliant from the 7s

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 6:27pm

28-12

7s are going to Tokyo!!

Skid X · 20-06-2021 6:30pm

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

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2021 6:31pm

Finished 28-19

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

Strazdas · 20-06-2021 6:35pm

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 · 20-06-2021 6:46pm

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 · 20-06-2021 6:54pm

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 · 20-06-2021 7:19pm

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 · 20-06-2021 7:31pm

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 · 20-06-2021 7:55pm

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 · 20-06-2021 7:58pm

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 · 20-06-2021 8:54pm

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 · 20-06-2021 8:55pm

Any chance of a medal on the track?

Dodge · 20-06-2021 9:00pm

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 · 20-06-2021 9:10pm

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote:

Any chance of a medal on the track?

Cycling track maybe ðŸ˜Š

Oldira · 20-06-2021 11:08pm

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 · 20-06-2021 11:11pm

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 · 21-06-2021 12:07am

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 · 21-06-2021 1:08am

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 · 21-06-2021 1:32am

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 · 21-06-2021 11:16am

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 · 21-06-2021 2:28pm

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

Strazdas · 21-06-2021 2:45pm

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 · 21-06-2021 3:38pm

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 · 21-06-2021 5:04pm

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 · 21-06-2021 9:59pm

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 · 22-06-2021 7:30pm

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 · 22-06-2021 7:43pm

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 · 22-06-2021 8:54pm

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 · 22-06-2021 9:01pm

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.

Road to Tokyo 2020 - Irish Olympic News

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