Do you want to meet some Irish athletes competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris?
Irish athletes have taken part in every modern-era Summer Olympics, either independently or as part of a Great Britain and Ireland team before 1924 – with the exception of the Nazi-controlled Berlin Games that took place in 1936.
From the inception of the modern-era games in 1896 until the 1920 edition, Ireland was duly represented by the Great Britain and Ireland team.
During the initial renditions of these games, Ireland was entered as a team in certain events alongside several other Great Britain and Ireland entries that reflected the Home Nations.
Thus far, the greatest quantity of medals attained at an Olympiad is six, which was accomplished during the 2012 London games.
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The highest number of golds, three in total, was claimed by Michelle Smith during the 1996 Atlanta games as she secured all of Ireland’s medals.
Boxing, undoubtedly, stands out as Ireland’s most successful sport at the games, contributing to over 50% of the medals earned. Athletics secured the highest number of gold medals with four victories.
Ireland is set to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, marking a significant milestone for the Emerald Isle – the centenary of its debut as an independent nation.
Let’s have a look at some of the distinguished Irish athletes competing at the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris, France.
Things you'll find in this article
6 Irish Athletes Competing In The 2024 Summer Olympics In Paris
1. Michaela Walsh
Irish boxer Michaela Walsh was born on June 5, 1993, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She took part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, fighting in the women’s featherweight division.
In the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Michaela won the silver medal in the flyweight category. Later, in 2018, she switched to the featherweight division and secured another silver medal.
An extraordinary achievement is that Michaela and her brother Aidan made history as the first brother and sister duo to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games in boxing. Both of them qualified in June 2021.
Aidan earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, representing Team Ireland. Michaela is set to compete again at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The Walsh siblings have been motivating each other since they were young, and they still do so now. They both go through intense training at the famous Emerald boxing club in Belfast.
2. Aoife O’Rourke
Aoife O’Rourke, a talented boxer from Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland, was born on July 2, 1997. She has achieved impressive success in her boxing career, with six Irish senior titles and a European championship under her belt.
O’Rourke’s journey in boxing began when she joined Castlerea Boxing Club for fitness while playing Gaelic football. She quickly fell in love with the sport and won her first Irish senior title in 2017.
Since then, she has continued to excel in boxing, earning silver at the European U22s in 2018 and making her debut at the World Seniors.
Her remarkable achievements include winning gold at the European Championships in Madrid in 2019, a feat previously accomplished only by Katie Taylor.
Her dedication and skill have earned her recognition and praise in the boxing world. She clinched her Olympic qualification with a bronze at the European Qualifying Tournament in Paris in June 2021, where she secured a quarter-final victory.
In her pursuit of greatness, Aoife represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, and she has her sights set on winning a medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
With her impressive track record and determination, Aoife O’Rourke is a rising star in the world of boxing, and her future looks bright.
3. Kellie Harrington
Kellie Harrington, born on December 11, 1989, in inner city Dublin, got interested in boxing around the age of 15.
At first, it was tough for her to join the local boxing club because they didn’t accept girls, but she didn’t give up and kept trying until she got in. Since then, she has been making great progress in boxing, and she loves the discipline and the sense of purpose it brings.
Kellie Harrington is an 8-time Irish Elite Champion at 3 different weights. Her most rewarding moment in sports was winning the Olympic Gold Medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Harrington is passionate about the sport and enjoys everything about it. Despite her success, she remains down-to-earth. She values the hard work and effort that paid off at the right time.
In addition to boxing, Kellie has other talents. She enjoys singing and cooking or baking. She also works a lot in her community, inspiring kids to take part in sports and helping them believe in themselves.
4. Sarah Lavin
Sarah Lavin, a talented Irish athlete specializing in high hurdles, was born on May 28, 1994, in Lisnagry, County Limerick, Ireland.
In her youth, she tried various sports and developed a passion for running fast and competing, starting at age 7 in Emerald A.C. and school contests. Lavin went on from local events in her home county to international competitions.
Sarah Lavin has made her mark despite facing challenges. Her dedication paid off as she won a bronze medal at the European Games in Poland and led Ireland to victory in the European Team Championships.
She also placed 3rd at the 2011 European Youth Olympics, 2nd at the 2013 European Junior Championships, and 4th at the 2019 World University Games.
Beyond her sporting talents, Sarah Lavin is also a chartered physiotherapist, finding fulfillment in assisting others in recovering from injuries.
Her boyfriend, the Waterford rally driver Craig Breen, passed away at the age of 33 due to fatal injuries sustained during a practice run in Lobor, Croatia on April 13, 2023.
5. Rhasidat Adeleke
Rhasidat Adeleke, an Irish sprinter with Nigerian ancestry, was born on August 29, 2002, in Dublin, Ireland. She is a rising star not only in Ireland but on the global athletics stage.
In the 2021 European Athletics Under-20 Championships, she achieved an impressive feat by winning the 100 meters and 200 meters double.
Adeleke also made history by becoming the first Irish woman to run the 400 meters in less than 50 seconds.
She holds six Irish national records, excelling in the 60 meters indoors, 200 meters indoors and outdoors, 300 meters indoors, and 400 meters indoors and outdoors.
In July 2023, Rhasidat Adeleke’s incredible talent earned her a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics as she met the qualifying standard by clocking 22.36 seconds for the 200 meters, making her the fourth Irish athlete to do so.
6. Brian Fay
Brian Fay is a distinguished athlete from Ireland who has earned the prestigious title of being the national champion in 3000-meter steeplechase and also holds the national record over 5000 meters.
He was born on November 9, 1998, in Dublin and has made remarkable strides in his athletic career.
In July of 2023, Fay accomplished an extraordinary feat by breaking the previous Irish record over 5000 meters with a phenomenal time of 13:01.40 at the Night of Athletics meeting held in Heusden, Belgium.
This impressive achievement surpassed the previous record (set in 2011) by two seconds.
Although he finished second during this race, Fay’s exceptional performance met both qualifying standards for both the upcoming World Athletics Championships and Paris Olympics scheduled for 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 60 countries for the past 12 years. I also lived in 4 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia, Africa and now in Europe. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.