OLYMPIC DAY BEHIND THE DREAM

 

TEAM IRELAND GOES BEHIND THE DREAMS FOR OLYMPIC DAY 2020

 

What’s behind your Olympic dream. That’s the question that the Olympic Federation of Ireland are asking athletes today, in celebration of Olympic Day (23 June). Behind every athlete, there is a story. There’s that moment when the seed of belief was sown, that moment when their dream became more real, and that someone who stoked the fire. Irish athletes will be sharing their stories on social media throughout the day.

To launch the campaign five Team Ireland Olympic Medallists share what was behind their Olympic dream in THIS BEHIND THE DREAMS OLYMPIC DAY VIDEO. Olympic Champions Ronnie Delany (Melbourne 1956, Athletics 1500m) and Michael Carruth (Barcelona 1992, Welterweight Boxing) are joined by Olympic Silver Medallists John Treacy (Los Angeles 1984, Athletics Marathon), Kenneth Egan (Beijing 2008, Light Heavyweight Boxing) and Annalise Murphy (Rio 2016, Laser Radial) to share their stories.

Michael Carruth’s father, Austin, was the man in his corner throughout his boxing career, and is the person who inspired him to aspire for Olympic success from an early age, “I won my first fight and I gave my dad a big hug and I made a promise to my dad, I said I’m going to win the Olympics, for you first, and for Ireland second.”

Ronnie Delany’s coach Jumbo Elliott helped him make his career defining decision to switch to the 1500m, “The person who made the most difference was Jumbo Elliott. He paternally put an arm around my shoulder and said son, some day you will be a great miler. Now I had never run a mile at this stage. He said Ronnie run a mile when you get home.”

Throughout the day Olympians and elite athletes will be sharing the stories behind their dreams on social media using the hashtags #TeamIreland, #OlympicDay and #BehindTheDreams.

IRELAND AT THE EUROPEAN SCHOOLBOY/GIRLS C’SHIPS

The class of 2019 improved Ireland’s all-time European Schoolboy/girl Championships haul to 119 medals in Tbilisi, Georgia last August.

The Ireland medal count now stands at 19 gold, 31 silver and 69 bronze since the inaugural tournament in Rome in 2003.

Some of the stand out names of Irish boxing, including Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympians John Joe Joyce, David Oliver Joyce and Joe Ward, have medalled at this level.

Former WBA/IBF champion Carl Frampton reached the 50kg final in Rome 16 years ago.

Female boxing was introduced last year and so far the Girls in Green have secured 20 medals, four of which are gold.

Ireland’s European Schoolboy/girls champions are David Joyce (2003), Willie O’Reilly (2004), Stephen O’Reilly (2004), Michael O’Reilly (2007), Michael McDonagh (2007), John Joyce (2012), Oliver McCarthy (2012), James McGivern (2012), Michael Nevin (2012), Aaron McKenna (2013), Jordan Myers (2013), William Hayden (2016) Jason Myers (2016), Yasmin Meredith (2018), Kaci Crowley (2018) Winne McDonagh (2018), Michael Faulkner (2018), Caoimhe Kinsella (2019) and Adam Olaniyan (2019).

The 2019 squad claimed the most medals but the 2018 team took home the most gold.

Before the tournament doubled up as a male and female competition, the 2012 squad were the best performing side with three gold medals.

Meantime, John Joyce (2010/11), Barry McReynolds (2013/14) and Katie O’Keeffe (2018/19) are Ireland’s two-time European Schoolboy/girl medallists, while Irish boxing has never failed to medal at this level.

IRISH EUROPEAN SCHOOLBOY/GIRL CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALLISTS

(Schoolgirls made their debut in 2018)

2003 Rome

70kg David Joyce Gold
50kg Carl Frampton Silver
52kg John Joe Joyce Bronze
54kg David Oliver Joyce Bronze
57kg John McDonagh Bronze
66kg Keith Boyle Bronze

2004 Hungary

40kg Willie O’Reilly Gold
68kg Stephen O’Reilly Gold
65kg Darren Cruise Silver
38.5kg Ryan Brady Bronze
52kg Paul Broadhurst Bronze

2005 Russia

52kg Darragh Power Silver
48kg David Joe Joyce Bronze
56kg David Joyce Bronze
59kg Bernard Roe Bronze
68kg Tommy McCarthy Bronze

2006 Ukraine

43kg Anthony Upton Bronze
54kg Tommy Kiely Bronze
56kg Fergal McRory Bronze

2007 England

44.5kg Michael O’Reilly Gold
48kg Michael McDonagh Gold
56kg Joe Ward Silver
40kg George Bates Bronze
52kg Chris Mullaly Bronze
50kg Christy Joyce Bronze
62kg Ray Ginley Bronze
68kg Dan O’Brien Bronze

2008 Serbia

54kg Dylan Carr Bronze

2009 Russia

56kg Victor Medvediuc Bronze
59kg Gerard Whitehouse Bronze

201o Bulgaria

41.5kg John Joyce Bronze
50kg Wayne Kelly Bronze
72kg Michael Gallagher Bronze

2011 Russia

48kg John Joyce Gold
44.5kg James Cleary Silver
76kg Matthew Burke Silver
52kg Tiernan Bradley Bronze
54kg Craig Bonney Bronze
49kg Lewis Crocker Bronze
65kg Sean Conroy Bronze
68kg Keelan Sexton Bronze

2012 Russia

46kg Oliver McCarthy Gold
48kg James McGivern Gold
52kg Michael Nevin Gold
50kg John Sweeney Silver
40kg Francie Stokes Bronze
56kg Kieran Molloy Bronze
59kg Brett McGinty Bronze
65kg Darragh Murray Bronze
72kg Nevan Fannon Bronze
76+kg James Clarke Bronze

2013 Dublin (City West Hotel)

46kg Aaron McKenna Gold
59kg Jordan Myres Gold
40kg Barry McReynolds Silver
43kg Sean Whelan Silver
54kg Paul Ryan Silver
48kg Jamie Harty Silver
50kg Jason Harty Silver
41.5kg Tiernan Bradley Bronze
65kg Leon Gallagher Bronze
68kg Jordan Joyce Bronze

2014 Hungary

41.5kg Brandon O’Brien Silver
46kg Barry McReynolds Silver
40kg Luke Hurley Bronze
48kg Michael Delaney Bronze
63kg Kane Tucker Bronze
76kg Michael Walsh Bronze
76+kg Tom Gavin Bronze

2015 Russia

40kg Steve Cairns Silver
43kg Brandon McCarthy Silver
65kg Ethan McGuckin Silver
76kg Michael McDonald Silver
68kg Francis Quinn Bronze

2016 Croatia

65kg William Hayden Gold
68kg Jason Myers Gold
48kg Cian Lewis Bronze
54kg Francis Maughan Bronze
56kg Patrick Collins Bronze
59kg Jason Irwin Bronze

2017 Romania

46kg Patrick Sweeney Silver
50kg Patrick Donovan Silver
59kg Eoghan Lavin Silver
40kg Brooklyn Saunders Bronze
41.5kg Jake Charkes Bronze
44.5kg Cahir Gormley Bronze
52kg Cain Lewis Bronze
56kg John Ward Bronze

2018 Bulgaria

Female

54kg Yasmin Meredith Gold
57kg Kaci Crowley Gold
63kg Winnie McDonagh Gold
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly Silver
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige Silver
36kg Katie O’Keeffe Bronze
42kg Nora Jackman Bronze
45kg Robyn Kelly Bronze
48kg Robyn Murran Bronze

Male

40kg Michael Faulkner Gold
50kg James Donovan Silver
76kg Curtis Darcy Silver
54kg John Fay Bronze
72kg Tyler Meade Bronze

2019 Georgia

Female

38kg Caoimhe Kinsella Gold
42kg Katie O’Keeffe Silver
44kg Esther Lambe Silver
51kg Georgia McGovern Silver
64kg Ava Rose Lyndon Silver
36kg Carlagh Peake Bronze
40kg Shakira McCrudden Bronze
46kg Carleigh Irving Bronze
48kg Nora Jackman Bronze
57kg Alicia King Bronze
60kg Gabrielle Mongan Bronze

Male

90kg Adam Olaniyan Gold
41.5kg Sean Tyndall Silver
62kg Micheal McCarthy Silver
40kg Roy Colgan Bronze
56kg Laurence Connors Bronze
68kg Thomas Ward Bronze
76kg Caolan Devlin Bronze

SUPPORT FOR IRISH SPORT ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Sport Ireland has welcomed Friday’s announcement by Ministers Ross and Griffin of €70 million of new funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and sports clubs in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The primary purpose of the funding announced today is to protect the national sports system in Ireland, which has been developed over the past two decades.

Click here for more information.

 

WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED

The AIBA Men’s and Women’s World Youth Championships has been postponed for six months.

The tournament was scheduled to go ahead in Kielce, Poland from November 2 to 9.

But the competition featuring the world’s top underage stars will now be held in April 2021.

It’s likely that the tournament will be hosted in Poland. However, this will be confirmed in due course.

 

IRELAND AT THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

1987 Cuba
64kg Eamonn Loughran Silver
71kg Denis Galvin Bronze

1989 Puerto Rico
64kg Eamon Magee Silver

1992 Canada
64kg Neil Sinclair Bronze

2000 Hungary
91kg Colman Barrett Bronze

2002 Cuba
71kg Andy Lee Silver

2008 Mexico
60kg Ray Moylette Gold
64kg Jamie Kavanagh Silver
69kg David Joe Joyce Bronze
81kg Tommy McCarthy Bronze

2010 Azerbaijan
75kg Joe Ward Gold
48kg Ryan Burnett Silver

2011 Turkey
48kg Katie Rowland Bronze
57kg Michaela Walsh Bronze

2012 Armenia
52kg Kurt Walker Bronze

2013 Bulgaria
69kg Christina Desmond Silver

2015 China
54kg Natasha Logan Bronze

2016 Russia
64kg Gabriel Dossen Bronze
75kg Michael Nevin Bronze

2017 India
48kg Caitlin Fryers Bronze
64kg Katelyn Phelan Bronze

2018
49kg Jude Gallagher Bronze