Team Ireland has an extraordinary group of athletes representing our country this year – here are the women poised for sporting greatness
Ireland’s chances of Olympic glory have never been higher thanks to the extraordinary talent in the biggest squad we have ever had representing us at the event.
With 133 athletes taking part, there will be massive interest from every part of the country as our athletes take on this monumental challenge in Paris, a century after the Olympic Games was last held there.
While we will be cheering on every person competing for Ireland, we are especially proud of the female cohort flying the flag in so many different events. Maeve Kyle was the first Irish female Olympian when she competed in the 1956 Olympic Games and for the first time ever, in 2024, there will be an equal number of women and men representing our island at the prestigious event.
Our current cover stars – Rhasidat Adeleke and Sonia O’Sullivan – are two of our biggest sporting icons with Rhasidat tipped for athletics gold and Sonia’s daughter Sophie taking on the 1500m race in a bid for success at her first Olympic Games.
If you have daughters, nieces or young grandchildren who dream of being an Olympian one day, make sure they have a front row seat to watch these world-class women in action.
Athletics
Rhasidat Adeleke – 400m, Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Sharlene Mawdsley – 400m, Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Sophie O’Sullivan – 1500m
Sophie Becker – 400m, W4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Phil Healy – W4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Ciara Mageean – 1500m
Sarah Healy – 1500m
Sarah Lavin – 100m Hurdles
Kate O’Connor – Heptathon
Jodie McCann – 5000m
Nicola Tuthill – Hammer
Rachel McCann – Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Lauren Cadden – Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Kelly McGrory – Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Fionnuala McCormack – Marathon
Roisin Harrison (NT Reserve) – Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Cliodhna Manning (NT Reserve) – Mixed 4x400m, W4x400m
Badminton
Rachael Darragh
Swimming
Mona McSharry
Ellen Walshe
Danielle Hill
Grace Davison
Victoria Catterson
Erin Riordan
Diving
Ciara McGing – 10m Platform
Canoe Slalom
Madison Corcoran
Michaela Corcoran
In a historic first, Ireland will have a woman competing in every possible boxing weight class this year.
Boxing
Aoife O’Rourke – 75kg (Middleweight)
Grainne Walsh – 63.5kg (Welterweight)
Kellie Harrington – 60kg (Lightweight)
Michaela Walsh – 57kg (Featherweight)
Jennifer Lehane – 54kg (Bantamweight)
Daina Moorehouse – 50kg (Flyweight)
Rowing
Margaret Cremen – Women’s Lightweight Double Scull
Aoife Casey – Women’s Lightweight Double Scull
Zoe Hyde – Women’s Double Scull
Alison Bergin – Women’s Double Scull
Aifric Keogh – Women’s Pair
Fiona Murtagh – Women’s Pair
Emily Hegarty – Women’s Four
Natalie Long – Women’s Four
Eimear Lambe – Women’s Four
Imogen Magner – Women’s Four
Holly Davis (Reserve)
Golf
Leona Maguire
Stephanie Meadow
Sailing
Eve McMahon
Cycling
Alice Sharpe – Team Pursuit & Madison
Lara Gillespie – Team Pursuit, Madison & Omnium
Mia Griffin – Team Pursuit
Kelly Murphy – Team Pursuit
Erin Creighton (Reserve)
Megan Armitage – Road Race
Equestrian
Abigail Lyle – Dressage
Susie Berry – Eventing
Sarah Ennis – Eventing
Aoife Clark (Alternate)
Women’s Ruby 7s
Stacey Flood, Lucy Rock, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Erin King, Ashleigh Orchard, Emily Lane, Kathy Baker, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Beibhinn Parsons, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Megan Burns, Eve Higgins, Amy Larn (Reserve), Claire Boles (Reserve)
The Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games 2024 will take place at 6pm on Friday, 26 July on RTÉ2. Coverage starts at 5.45pm on BBC1 NI.
Good luck, Team Ireland!
Make sure to pick up the July|August issue to read more about Rhasidat’s story to success and ambitions for an Olympic Gold, and to read Sonia’s reflections on a golden career and passing on the baton to others.
