Rugby
In the final team announcement from the Olympic Federation of Ireland for the European Games, thirteen Rugby Sevens players have been named. The Krakow Games play a key role in the Olympic qualification journey for the Team Ireland players, with the winner gaining automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics. Last month the women’s team secured their Olympic berth, and a strong men’s team has been named ahead of the competition which takes place on the 25 – 27 June.
Played in the Henryk Reyman Stadium in Krakow, the same venue as the Opening Ceremony, this tournament poses a good opportunity for Ireland to qualify, the nations that finish second and third will contest the repechage. The Irish team in Krakow will be boosted by the inclusion of Terry Kennedy, who was named 2022 World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year.
TEAM IRELAND RUGBY SEVENS PLAYERS:
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Liam McNamara (IQ Rugby) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Mark Roche (Lansdown FC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC) Men’s Rugby Sevens
“Coming off the back of the World Series season, we have been building towards the European Games in Krakow as we bid to follow the Ireland Women and book our place at the Paris Olympics,” said Head Coach James Topping.
“As we saw in Portugal last weekend, it will be a very competitive tournament with 12 teams all heading to Poland with one ambition in mind. We know there will be no margin for error and the group understands we will need to be at our best to give ourselves the best possible chance of success.”
This is the final sport to be announced by Team Ireland for the European Games this summer, the European Games run from the 20th of June to the 2nd of July in Krakow and will see approximately 120 Irish athletes across seventeen sports. This is the third edition of the European Games, which is a multi-sport event run by the European Olympic Committees and will see athletes compete across districts in the Krakow-Malopolska region.
We will have daily updates on Team Ireland’s progress through the Games.
Athletics
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has named the forty-four athletes who will compete at the European Games in Krakow.
While Athletics has featured on the European Games programme since 2015, this is the first time that it holds European Championship status, with it doubling up as the European Team Championships.
The competition takes place in the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, and runs from the 20th of June until the 26th of June, with the Irish athletes competing on the first three days.
Team Ireland will be competing in Division Three, with the main objective of the team being to gain enough points and strong enough performances to move into Division Two.
A full athletics programme of action will be featured during the Games, and this will be the first outing for Athletics Ireland athletes under their new sprint coach, Christian Malcolm.
For following countries are in the third division, with Ireland hoping to come out on top: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Malta, Montenegro, Georgia, Armenia, Andorra, Republic of North Macedonia, San Marino, Albania, AASSE (Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe), Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Austria, Ireland and Israel.
Competition for the Division Three events will take place in the morning of the first three days; 20, 21 and 22 of June. The medals in each category will be awarded after athletes in all divisions have competed, on the 26th of June.
Team Ireland will feature some of the up-and-coming talents in Irish athletics, as well as some seasoned names like Thomas Barr, Sarah Lavin, Phil Healy and Israel Olatunde.
TEAM IRELAND ATHLETICS ATHLETES:
Israel Olatunde (UCD AC Dublin/Louth) 100m (M), 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) 200m (M), 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Jack Raftery (UCD A.C., Dublin) 400m (M), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
James Ezeonu (Leevale AC) 100m H (M)
Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC/Waterford) 400m H (M), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
Rocco Zaman-Browne (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 800m (M)
Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) 1500m (M)
Fearghal Curtin (Youghal A.C.) 5000m (M)
Finley Daly (Sligo A.C.) 3000m SC (M)
David Cussen (Old Abbey AC, Cork) High Jump (M)
Reece Ademola (Leevale AC) Long Jump (M)
Michael Bowler (Swinford AC, Mayo) Pole Vault (M)
Jai Benson (Lagan Valley AC) Triple Jump (M)
Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock A.C./Ballina – Grandmother) Shot Put (M)
Colin Quirke (Crusaders AC, Dublin) Discus Throw
Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, Tipperary) Hammer Throw (M)
Conor Cusack (Lake District A.C., Mayo) Javelin
Oliver Swinney (Speed Development Project Track AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Nelvin Appiah (Longford AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Christopher Sibanda (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Joseph Ojewumi (Tallaght AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay
Callum Baird (Ballymena & Antrim AC) Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn) 100m (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Phil Healy (Bandon AC, Cork) 200m (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay, Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) 400m (F), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC/Limerick) 100m H (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonall AC) 400m H (F), 4 x 400m (F) Relay
Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) 800m (F)
Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC, Cork) 1500m (F)
Aoibhe Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) 5000m (F)
Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers, Offaly) 3000m SC (F)
Ruby Millet (St. Abban’s AC, Co. Laois) Long Jump (F)
Saragh Buggy (St. Abban’s AC, Co. Laois) Triple Jump (F)
Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) High Jump (F)
Ellie McCartney (City of Lisburn A.C., Antrim) Pole Vault (F)
Michaela Walsh (Swinford AC, Mayo) Shot Put (F)
Grace Casey (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) Javelin (F)
Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrock AC) Discus Throw (F)
Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC/Cork) Hammer Throw (F)
Adeyemi Talabi (Longford AC) 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Joan Healy (Leevale AC) 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley) 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Mollie O’Reilly (Dundrum South Dublin) 4 x 100m (F) Relay
Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC, Limerick) Mixed 4 x 400m Relay
“We are delighted to be working with Athletics Ireland at the European Games in Krakow, on what will be an important competition on their calendar,” said Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Krakow 2023, Gavin Noble.
“For many athletes on the team this will be their first step into a multi-sport environment, for some, like Israel and Ava, we are looking forward to working with them again, following on from their EYOF participation. The experience of Olympians like Thomas, Sarah, Phil and Louise on the team, will also give the team a huge boost.”
“The European Team Championships is an outstanding event with a novel team format that differentiates it from other major championships,” added Athletics Ireland Director of High Performance Paul McNamara.
“It is akin to the European Cross Country Championships in that it provides a gauge of our standing in European Athletics. The format gives an opportunity to emerging athletes to compete alongside many of our very best, and all compete with the overall aim of team success. We find ourselves in Division 3 as a result of having skipped this event in 2021, due to Covid restrictions, and we have the sole aim of earning automatic promotion.”
Athletics is the penultimate sport to be announced by Team Ireland for the European Games this summer, with the final announcement to be revealed later today.
The European Games run from the 20th of June to the 2nd of July in Krakow and will see approximately 120 Irish athletes across seventeen sports. This is the third edition of the European Games, which is a multi-sport event run by the European Olympic Committees and will see athletes compete across districts in the Krakow-Malopolska region.
Boxing
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has named the twelve boxers who will contest the European Games this month. The multi-sport Games offers a key opportunity for Team Ireland boxers to achieve Olympic Qualification with up to four Paris 2024 quota spots across each boxing category to be awarded at Krakow 2023. The boxing venue is in Nowy Targ Arena, almost 100km from Krakow City.
Ireland is one of the highest-ranked countries going into the boxing tournament, with the team boasting multiple world and European medallists, as well as Olympic Champion, Kellie Harrington. Team Ireland has enjoyed much success in boxing, with boxing medals accounting for over half of our overall Olympic medal haul.
While medals and podiums will be in the minds of the athletes, the key focus for the boxing team will be to progress through the relevant rounds that will secure them Paris Olympic qualification. Rightsholders for the European Games, RTÉ, will be releasing details shortly of where you can keep up with the Irish in action across their platforms.
The boxing programme in Krakow spans almost the full competition, running from the 23rd of June to the 2nd of July. While the medals will be decided on the final two days, all eyes will be on the 28th of June and the 30th of June, when the Olympic qualification spots will be decided.
TEAM IRELAND BOXERS:
Daina Moorehouse (Bray, Co. Wicklow) Women’s 50kg
Jennifer Lehane (Ashbourne, Co. Meath) Women’s 54kg
Michaela Walgh (Belfast, Co. Antrim) Women’s 57kg
Kellie Harrington (Dublin) Women’s 60kg
Amy Broadhurst (Dundalk, Co. Louth) Women’s 66kg
Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea, Co. Roscommon) Women’s 75kg
Sean Mari (Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin) Men’s 51kg
Jude Gallagher (Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone) Men’s 57kg
Dean Clancy (Sligo) Men’s 63.5kg
Dean Walsh (Wexford) Men’s 71kg
Kelyn Cassidy (Ballybeg, Waterford) Men’s 80kg
Jack Marley (Sallynoggin, Co. Dublin) Men’s 92kg
“This is an exceptional team with enormous potential,” said Head Coach Zaur Antia. “Their preparations in training camps and competitions this year have been excellent, and I have great faith in every member of the team to perform to the very best of their ability at the European Games, up-holding Boxing as Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.”
Modern Pentathlon
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has named a three-person team to compete in Modern Pentathlon at the European Games in Krakow. Doubling up as the European Championships, the event in Krakow offers a significant opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris next year, with eight quota spots available.
Team Ireland will be sending three female athletes to the European Games, with Galway’s Sive Brassil being the key contender from the team, as she targets qualification for her first Olympic Games. Allocations will be decided on the 1st of July, in the finals of the competitions. Isobel Radford-Dodd and Hanna D’Aughton will also be competing in the competition, at what will be their first major Games.
Modern Pentathlon was one of the original sports on the Modern Olympic Games programme, and one in which the founder of the Olympic movement, Pierre de Coubertain competed.
Based on simulating the experience of a 19th Century soldier, the event tracks the athletes as they compete in fencing, swimming, shooting, running and riding a ‘strange’ horse. Following controversy at the Tokyo Olympic Games, there has been considerable discussion about removing the round with the horse from the programme, it will remain in for the Paris Olympic Games.
Padel
Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world; this summer four Team Ireland athletes will be competing in this exciting sport at the European Games. Irish athletes will contest the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles in Krakow City, with the semi-finals and finals taking place in the iconic Main Square. Ireland is one of 23 nations competing in the competition which runs from the 21 – 25 June
Although a new sport, there is an abundance of experience within the Irish team. The Women’s Double includes two Dubliners, ex-Professional tennis player Jennifer Claffey and former international tennis player Susan McRann. The Men’s Double consists of two Spanish-based athletes, Sean Neave who is originally from Kerry, and Sam McKibbon, from Bangor, who now lives in Marbella, Spain
As well as being an ex-professional tennis player, Claffey competed in Rugby Sevens and was a premier-level footballer. The Dublin all-rounder said,
“Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world, and I am honoured to represent Ireland at the European Games. I relish the challenge of the International Padel scene and look forward to growing the participation of padel across Ireland in the coming years.”
Men’s Doubles player Sean Neave (Kerry) currently lives and plays on the competitive Spanish circuit, said,
“I am very thankful to the Padel Federation of Ireland for this opportunity and look forward to representing Team Ireland in the European Games.”
Padel combines elements of tennis and squash and was invented by a Mexican man in 1969. The sport continued to grow in South America, before moving to Spain in the 1970s. It is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, in Spain it is the second most popular sport after soccer. The scoring for Padel is similar to that of Tennis.
Archery
Team Ireland will be represented in Archery at the European Games in Krakow by Emma Davis and Oskar Ronan. Both athletes will compete in the Recurve Individual events, which take place in the Plaszowianka Archery Park in Krakow City. Irish archers have been competing in the European Games since the inaugural event in Baku 2015.
Archery made its Olympic debut at the Games in Paris in 1900 but dropped off the programme until 1972. Since then, four Irish athletes have competed in the Games, including 1996 Olympian, Keith Hanlon, who is the team manager for the Irish team in Krakow.
Archery is one of the most accessible sports on the Olympic programme, and in Krakow 2023 it offers direct passes to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Ronan and Davis compete in the Recurve events, the recurve bow is one of the main shapes a bow can take in archery, with limbs that curve away from the archer when unstrung. This allows for a higher draw in strength from the archer.
In the Recurve competition, the athletes shoot over distances of 70 metres at a target face measuring 122cm in diameter, with a 10-ring measuring 12.2 cm in diameter. The qualification phase consists of 72 arrows, after which archers are ranked by their total score to determine the seeds for matchplay. The eliminations phase consists of head-to-head brackets in which the winner of each match advances and the loser is eliminated.
Shooting
Two Team Ireland shooters will be in action at the European Games in Poland later this month, both contesting the Clay Target events.
Aoife Gormally will be competing in her second European Games in Trap Women, while Jack Fairclough will be making his European Games debut in the Skeet Men. The venue for the Games is the Wroclaw Shooting Centre, in Wroclaw, which is 270km from Krakow City.
Shooting will be the longest-running sport on the European Games programme, with Irish competition focused on the 24th – 25th June (Fairclough), and the 29th – 30th June (Gormally).
Trap is a single target, going away from the shooter at acute angles and heights, with two shots per target. Targets are voice-activated with immediate, but random release from a computerised control box and travel 76m.
Skeet is a regulated mix of single and double targets, crossing left to right and right to left in front of the shooter, with one shot per target.
From Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Gormally has been competing at the world level since 2015 and finished 7th in the 2021 European Championships. Fairclough, while living in Manchester, has roots in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. He has been competing on the world level since 2014.
Diving
At the European Games in Krakow, three Team Ireland divers will be in action, with the event doubling up as the European Championships.
The venue for the Games is the Diving Arena in Rzeszów, almost 170km from the Krakow centre.
This is the first time that aquatics will be included in the European Games programme and offers direct Olympic qualification for the divers in each category, with the gold medallist in the 3m Springboard and the 10m Platform qualifying a spot in Paris 2024.
Competition in diving occurs between the 23 – 28 June, with Ciara McGing first to compete, in the 10m Platform. The 2022 European Championships finalist currently trains in Ohio State University.
Clare Cryan has been enjoying a great season this year, setting a new National Record last weekend in the 3m Springboard. She was also a 2022 European Championships finalist in both the 1m and 3m Springboard events, both of which she will contest at the European Games. Cryan will also team up with 18-year-old Jake Passmore in the Mixed Synchronised 3m Springboard.
Passmore dominated the junior category at last year’s World Championships, winning a silver and he won bronze at the European Junior Championships. This will be his first senior international event, he will compete in the Men’s 1m and 3m Springboard as well as the Mixed Synchronised 3m Springboard with Cryan.
“The European Games is a crucial competition for our divers, as well as being an Olympic qualification event, it will also prepare our divers for the World Championships which follows immediately afterwards,” said Ireland Diving Coach Damian Ball.
“I’m very proud of the work, effort, and dedication our three divers have put in to make this team and I’m excited to be coaching with the Olympic Federation once again.”
Cycling
Two Team Ireland cyclists will be in action in Krakow next month for the European Games, with Ryan Henderson competing in BMX and Chris Dawson competing in Cross-Country Mountain Biking (MTB XCO).
Both competitions double up as the European Championships and will have Olympic qualification places available.
Belfast BMX rider Ryan Henderson will be one of the first Irish athletes in action, competing in the BMX Freestyle event, which takes place in the Krzeszowice BMX Park just outside Krakow on the 21 – 22 June.
Henderson impressed at last year’s European Championships when he became the first Irish athletes to compete in the event, finishing in tenth position. The winner of this competition will automatically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games next year.
Chris Dawson, also from Belfast, has enjoyed considerable success both offroad and in road cycling. He also represented Ireland in the UCI Cycling eSports World Championships earlier this year.
Also a European Championship event, the European Games will offer valuable ranking points for Dawson on his Olympic journey. The Mountain Bike course is outside Krakow City, in Krynica-Zdroj Hill Park, and takes place on the 25 June.
“It’s great to see the off-road disciplines of MTB XCO and BMX freestyle come to the fore with the selection of Chris and Ryan to represent Ireland at the European Games,” said Cycling Ireland High Performance Director Iain Dyer.
“Both events will double up as the UEC European Championships too, so represent a real landmark in our racing calendar. I know both have worked hard to forge a path to these Games and we’ll be excited to watch their progress.”
Canoeing
Canoeing is the sixth sport to name its team of competitors at the European Games taking place in Krakow in Poland over the coming weeks.
Eight Canoe Slalom athletes and one Canoe Sprint athlete will fly the flag for Ireland. Jenny Egan is the sole competitor to race in the Canoe Sprint, which runs from 22 – 24 June, while six male and two female athletes will contest the Canoe Slalom event from 29 June – 2 July. The events double up as European Championships for the Canoeists, with both titles and Olympic qualifying spots available.
Egan is going into the European Games ranked world number one in the 5000m event, an event that is not on the programme in Krakow. The Lucan racer will be competing in the K1 200m and K1 500m events, both of which are on the Olympic programme, and offer opportunities for nations to qualify for quota spots. The Canoe Sprint takes place in Kryspinow Waterway in Krakow, not far from the Canoe Slalom course.
Tokyo Olympian Liam Jegou will compete in the C1 Canoe Slalom event, alongside Robert Hendrick and Jake Cochrane. The event involves an athlete kneeling in a closed cockpit while propelling the boat with a single-bladed paddle through narrow slalom gates on a big white water. The Team Ireland Canoe Slalom athletes regularly compete and train at the Kolna Sports Centre in Krakow, where the competition will take place.
OFI Paris Scholarship recipient, Noel Hendrick, brother of Robert, competes in the K1 event, along with Alistair McCreery and Samuel Curtis, who also looks after communications and marketing for the National Governing Body. This kayaking event involves the athlete sitting on the boat with a double-bladed paddle.
Team Ireland will be represented by two female athletes in Canoe Slalom, Michaela Corcoran in the C1 event, and Madison Corcoran in the K1 event. The two sisters are the daughters of Team Ireland Olympian Mike Corcoran, who competed in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 and has been a great supporter of the Irish canoeing team.
“We are excited to see what this extremely strong team of Canoe Slalom athletes are going to deliver on the European Games start line.,” said Performance Director Jon Mackey.
“With Olympic spots up for grabs this team of proven international performers have their sights set on this first step on the pathway to Paris 2024. Our eight athletes will be on-site in Kolna well in advance of the competition to get fully settled in and ready to perform.”
Triathlon
Team Ireland is set to field a full team across the Triathlon events at the European Games in Krakow this summer.
Tokyo Olympian Carolyn Hayes as well as Erin McConnell will compete in the Women’s Individual event, with in-form James Edgar and Luke McCarron competing in the Men’s Individual race.
Ireland will also compete in the Mixed Relay for the first time.
“We’re delighted that four athletes have been selected to compete at the European Games,” said Director of Performance with Triathlon Ireland, Gordon Crawford.
“This is a young team looking to develop their experience and race-craft but one with a lot of potential. The European Games provides a great development opportunity and a chance for the athletes to test themselves both individually and as a team.”
Fencing
Four Team Ireland fencers have been named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland to compete at the European Games in Krakow.
This is a European Games debut for Irish fencers, in the sport that also featured on the 2015 European Games programme in Baku.
Competition takes place in the Tauron Arena in Krakow and Irish competition runs from the 25 – 28 of June.
The four-person fencing team will see athletes competing in the Men’s Individual Sabre, the Men’s Sabre Team, and the Men’s Individual Epee events. Competition in these events begins with a group round in which 6-7 players fight to five hits. The maximum fighting time is 3 minutes, and this is followed by direct elimination rounds.
The Irish team consists of Jadryn Dick, Michael Jacob, Michalis Kirimlidis and Giacomo Patrick Pietobelli.
“Fencing at the European Games is an important step for out athletes, where they get to experience a multi-sport event for the first time. It also offers an opportunity for them to compete with the best fencers in Europe,” said Nuala McGarrity, Chair of Fencing Ireland.
Badminton
A full team of badminton players has been named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for the European Games which takes place from the 20th of June – 2nd of July in Krakow, Poland.
Team Ireland athletes will compete in all five disciplines, with six athletes set to compete.
This is the third sport to be announced for the European Games, which will see approximately 120 Irish athletes compete across 17 sports, with Olympic qualifying spots on the line in many events.
Team Ireland has enjoyed considerable success in Badminton at the European Games, since the inaugural Games in Baku 2015. Sam Magee and Chloe Magee won bronze in the Mixed Doubles at the European Games in Minsk in 2019 and in Baku 2015.
Bronze Medallist from the Men’s Doubles in Baku 2015, Joshua Magee, will be back in action at his third European Games, teaming up again with Paul Reynolds.
Tokyo Olympian Nhat Nguyen will be competing in the Men’s Singles, the Dubliner has been going from strength to strength in recent years and is currently ranked fourth going into the tournament.
The Badminton competition takes place in the Jaskolska Arena in Tarnow, just over 80km from the Krakow centre. It runs from the 26th of June – 2nd of July and the draw will be made live on the Badminton European channels on the 6th of June.
“We are delighted to have qualified athletes in all five disciplines for the upcoming European Games.,” said Performance Director Dan Magee.
“We have a team with a good level of experience which includes Tokyo Olympian Nhat Nguyen and Joshua Magee who holds a bronze medal in men’s doubles from the European Games in Baku.”
“We are also delighted to have a strong coaching staff travelling to the event with Iskandar Zainuddin leading the singles and Sam Magee (Medallist at both the 2015 and 2019 European Games) leading the doubles and mixed doubles coaching at the event. The Games will count towards qualification for Paris and this will be the feature event for European badminton athletes in 2023”
Taekwondo
The Team Ireland Taekwondo athletes have been named for the European Games in Krakow, Poland next month.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Jack Woolley will compete in the -58kg category, with Leroy Nsilu Dilandu competing in the -74kg event.
The two Tallaght athletes have enjoyed podium success in recent months, at GPs around Europe. Over the coming weeks, the full Irish team will be named, with over 120 athletes set to compete.
Taekwondo takes place in the Krynica-Zdroj Arena approximately 140km from Krakow City. The Men’s -58kg (Woolley) will be taking place on the 23rd of June, and the Men’s -74kg (Nsilu Dilandu) on the 25th of June. This event is a key one for the Irish athletes, with Olympic ranking points on the line for the athletes.
Woolley made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, becoming the first Irish Taekwondo athlete to become an Olympian. He is joined by his former sparring partner, Nsilu Dilandu, who played an important role in the lead-up to the Games. Over the past number of years, 21-year-old Nsilu Dilandu has been making a mark in the -74kg event on the international stage.
“Taekwondo Ireland is honoured to once again have representation on Team Ireland at a major multi-sport event,” said Head Coach Robert Taaffe
“Our two athletes selected both auto-qualified for the event through their positions in the World Taekwondo Ranking system. Both Jack and Leroy have had an excellent recent record at events and we look forward to them showcasing their abilities in our sport in front of the bigger audience of the European Games and inspiring the next generation who may strive to wear the Team Ireland emblem on their Taekwondo uniform.”
“Combat sports are really well represented at this event, and we look forward to watching & supporting all of our colleagues in the wider team”
Kickboxing
Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The European Games play a key role in introducing new sports to the programme, with a view to them potentially becoming events on the Olympic Games programme.
Marking the first sport to be announced by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for these games, a strong Irish kickboxing team has been named. Kickboxing is making its debut on the Olympic stage, and Team Ireland will be represented in ten events by nine world-class athletes.
Irish kickboxers have enjoyed considerable international success over the past number of years, and the nine athletes who have been selected to compete at the Myslenice Arena between the 30th of June and the 2nd of July are no strangers to world-class podiums.
“This is a big moment for our sport, and we have nine incredibly talented athletes ready to take on the challenge,” said Team Manager David Heffernan.
“It is our first time competing within the Olympic multi-sports environment and we are looking forward to showcasing our sport. I will be very proud watching our athletes who have dedicated so much time and resource wearing those prestigious Olympic rings while competing at this event.”
