The wait is nearly over. The opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics takes place on 23rd July and one of the greatest sporting events on the planet will get under way. Athletes from nearly all over the world will travel to the Japanese capital to compete for the most coveted medals in the world. Like any other country, Ireland will be sending athletes in what will be an exceptionally exciting Olympics for the people back home. Below we look at some of the most promising Irish athletes to be competing at the Games.
Ireland’s biggest ever talent pool yet
Team Ireland is coming out in force for these games. The team will be sending the nation’s biggest talent pool yet, with athletes representing it in a record number of sports. Take the swimming team, for instance. Nine Olympic hopefuls will be giving it everything they’ve got for our country in the pool.
This is a big change. Historically, boxing has always been the country’s best chance of an athlete coming away with a medal. This time, however, Irish athletes are in with a much stronger chance of getting in amongst the medals. All of the big bookie websites are offering betting markets on the events, but which Irish athletes should you be backing?
Who are the athletes to watch?
Ireland is looking good, with highly capable athletes all out in Tokyo and looking to secure a medal for their nation. Here are some athletes to watch out for especially:
Michaela Walsh and Michael Walsh
In recent years, a lot of Irish Olympic boxing hopes have rested with Aidan Walsh, who won a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Walsh will be fighting for the nation in Tokyo, but just as intriguing will be the journey of his sibling, Michaela Walsh, in the Games. The two have already made Olympic history by being the first boxing brother and sister to compete in the same Games.
Michaela Walsh secured her place amongst the Olympic contenders with a victory in the quarter-final at the European qualifiers in Paris. If she’d needed a second bite of the cherry, there would have been one, but it wasn’t necessary as she proved too good for Sweden’s Stephanie Thour. Walsh was too clever in the ring, moving well and displaying real sharpness in her punching.
Brother Michael also clinched his place in the quarter finals at Paris. Although Walsh slipped quickly into this groove, his welterweight encounter with number four seed and world number twenty Yevheni Barabandy turned into an all-out war. The Ukrainian upped the ante and each fighter tried to stamp their authority on the content, but Walsh, knowing he was closer to victory, was content to start stepping back a little and countering.
Ben Fletcher and Megan Fletcher
Irish judo hopes will be pinned on two more siblings: Ben and Megan Fletcher. Both Team Bath athletes will be battling for Ireland on the mat, which is a special honour because they’ll be doing so in the home of judo. Ben Fletcher has featured among the top 10 placings in various tournaments in 2019 and 2020, the highest being second at the 2019 Hohhot Grand Prix. He’ll be hoping to go one better than that in the Games and step up onto the middle section of the medal ceremony platform.
Meanwhile, for sibling Megan, getting to the Games is something of an ‘I made it’ achievement. She missed out narrowly on competing in London 20212 and Rio 2016. This time, it’s happening. Like her brother, she’s finished in the top 10 in several tournaments in 2019 and 2020. In the 2021 World Judo Championships, which took place in Hungary, she finished fifth.
Mona McSharry (swimming)
Mona McSharry has been demonstrating promise for the last few years now as an athlete Ireland should definitely place in the water for them. McSharry is the 2017 European junior champion in the 50 metre and 100 metre Breaststroke, not to mention the 2017 World junior champion in the 100 metre Breaststroke.
The achievements don’t end there. In the 50 and 100 metre Breaststroke of the 2018 World Schools Games, she also took gold. She’s given a hint of her potential with her 2021 form at the University of Tennessee, but it was the Swim Ireland meet that sealed her qualification.
Rhys McClenaghan (gymnastics)
McClenaghan, from Down, is on a quest to become of the world’s greatest gymnasts ever and will be looking to do the Irish proud in the Men’s Pommel Horse. He gave a strong performance in the World Championships in October 2019, bringing home a bronze medal and securing himself a place on the team for the Games. In fact, that third place position transformed into one of the favourites as we head into Tokyo 2020. He’s a big medal hope for the nation and we are praying that he can pull it off.
The appearance of so many different Irish athletes at Tokyo 2020 has given Ireland something extra special to enjoy and a sense of hope. Other outstanding athletes to watch out for include Dan Martin in the road cycling, Meg Ryan in the gymnastics (women’s all-round), Tanya Watson in the diving, and a certain Rory McIlroy in the golf.