Road to Tokyo 2020 - Irish Olympic News

I have been trying to see if any of our shooters have a chance of qualifying for Tokyo. Aoife Gormally is ranked 14th in the World. There is one as unqualified ahead of her and just one spot available however there is also a reallocation spot available if she holds her ranking. There is a world cup event this week in Delhi and for some reason she is not competing but the next three competitors below her are and its likely she will be overtaken. It seems a strange decision to lose a near certain qualification spot like this. There is nothing on any of the web sites etc that I can see. Strange

I think a realistic medal return from Tokyo would be 3-5 medals. Seems like our leading medal contenders are (a rough categrisation): 1. Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy; 2. Sanita Puspure; 3. Annalise Murphy; 4. Ronan Byrne and Phillp Doyle; 5. Brendan Irvine; 6. Kellie Harrington; 7 Ryhs McClenaghan; 8. Showjumping Team; 9. Natalya Coyle; 10. Eventing Team; 11. Rory McIlroy; 12. Brendan Boyce.

Irish Sports Follower wrote: »

I think a realistic medal return from Tokyo would be 3-5 medals. Seems like our leading medal contenders are (a rough categrisation): 1. Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy; 2. Sanita Puspure; 3. Annalise Murphy; 4. Ronan Byrne and Phillp Doyle; 5. Brendan Irvine; 6. Kellie Harrington; 7 Ryhs McClenaghan; 8. Showjumping Team; 9. Natalya Coyle; 10. Eventing Team; 11. Rory McIlroy; 12. Brendan Boyce.

I'd definitely have Jack Whooley on that list. Hard part was actually qualifying. Also Liam Jegou could well medal but Canoe Slalom is a massive 'on the day' sport.

Very encouraging Irish performances at the European Rowing Championships this weekend. Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy won gold and appear strong favourites to win Olympic gold. Meanwhile, the Women's Four of Eimear Lambe, Emily Hegarty, Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh claimed a silver medal and seem capable of challenging for an Olympic medal. Disappointingly, world silver-medalists Ronan Byrne and Phillip Doyle failed to make their A final suggesting their Olympic prospects have suffered from the onset of the pandemic (Phillip Doyle returned to work as a doctor from March 2020).

Elsewhere, modern pentathlete Arthur Lanigan O'Keefe came 22nd in the final of World Cup 2 in Bulgaria, whilst Sive Brassil finsihed 27th.

Important week for Olympic qualification here.

Currently Finn Lynch is 7th of countries seeking the final two Laser places at the qualification regatta in Portugal. Finished 28 th in first race and 5th in the second. He really can’t afford another poor race like the first or he will have no chance. Still early days.

Today the Swimming national trials start. At least half a dozen swimmers have hopes of making the OQT but for some that means swimming PBS. Brendan Hyland and Mona McSharry have probably the best chances. Best of luck to them all.

No concerns by any means, I've quite recently fixed the spelling blunders in the title and we are all set now with this string

I need to apologize to everybody for being so inert of late, I'll put forth a valiant effort to be more dynamic from here on. I trust you will all stay to follow our competitors for another Olympic mission. Anticipating it, we should trust it's an extraordinary Olympiad for Irish competitors.

Kate O'Connor accumulated 6297 points for the heptathlon today in Italy. I believe she is well-placed to qualify for Tokyo now.

Dodge wrote: »

I don’t think she’ll be in the ranking position yet but she’ll move up

She was 35th and the top 24 will go. If she went at 20 jr would be an incredible achievement

Edit: I’ve been told she’ll be in the top 20 when they’re updated

Brilliant news! I think Kate could be the next superstar of Irish athletics, heptathlon is an event where athletes from European countries commonly medal on the global stage. Hopefully she is a medal contender for Paris in three years' time.

Big Month ahead in direct qualifying competitions.

Athletics: May 1/2. World Relay Championships. Ireland is sending to teams and if the qualify for the final they go to Tokyo.
Tall order though.
Diving: May 1-6. Ireland has sent 4 divers. If threy qualify for the top 18 then the qualify for Tokyo. It would be a surprise
if Oliver Dingley failed and Clare Cryan is probably the best chance of the women.
Canoe Slalom: Ireland is sending a number of entries to the European Championships in the boats that have not already qualified. Only the top country that has not already qualified wins a quota. In 2016 Ukraine got a spot despite finishing in 24th place. Hannah Craig in K1 is our best bet.
Canoe Sprint: Again a number of Irish entries. Top two non qualified countries will earn a quota in each event. Jenny Egan, despite being a long distance specialist is our best hope.
Rowingg: 16-18 May. Final qualifying Regatta. A big one. Ireland has a serious chance of qualifying the women's four. Recent European silver medalists their big opposition will be China, New Zealand and Italy for the two spots available. We are also sending the lightweight womens sculls and wile outsiders they are not without a chance particularly as there are 3 spots available.
Shooting. European Championships. Aoife Gormally is currently world ranked 20th and their is one spot free in women's trap. She may also get a reallocation if she fails as she is the highest ranked non qualifier.

Dodge wrote: »

The athletics relays have been hit with numerous drop outs and they’re are only 14 entered in the women’s 4x100 with Nigeria and India the latest to pull out

Only 2 of the 8 qualified are there (Italy and Switzerland) so ireland getting to a final isn’t out of the question. We don’t have our strongest team going though (Covid travel and injuries)

The mixed 4x400 looks stronger for Ireland but it’s a tougher field

In other sports we should have triathlon spots confirmed in May. The rankings close on May 11

The triathlon rankings cut off date has been moved to mid June. White and Hayes will have to compete in a number of events this month to shore up their ranking as both are on the bubble. There are 6 ranking events in May-June.

https://www.triathlonireland.com/news/2021/russell-white-back-on-olympic-quest/

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Anyone know how we are doing in terms of overall numbers compared to previous years - any prospect of this being our largest ever team or anything like that? Having a full hockey squad going may help towards that.

Well, currently our team is on 65 and the largest team we have sent previously was 78. That's without including golfer(4 certain),rowing, boxing, triathlon, badminton, judo, swimming, Athletics all whom have Irish competitors in qualifying contention. I think there is little doubt we will well surpass 80 and maybe even be closer to 90 if we qualify a swimming relay team.