The nation of Ireland has revealed its 12-strong roster, its largest ever, for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Six men and six women will compete across 10 individual and 3 relay events later this month, with action beginning on July 27th.
Short course world record holder Daniel Wiffen leads the charge, with the 22-year-old set to race in the 800m and 1500m free.
But Wiffen will also be taking on the 10k open water race, courtesy of the new rule laid down by World Aquatics.
Swimmers who have achieved an Olympic Qualification Time (OQT, aka “A” cut), in the 800 or 1500 free, and swims either race at the Olympic Games, are eligible to swim the 10km open water race in Paris – presuming it doesn’t put countries over the 2-per-country limit.
Thus far, the United States, Spain and now Ireland have taken advantage of this new parameter.
Shane Ryan is also on the men’s roster, with the 30-year-old becoming the nation’s first-ever male swimmer to make three Olympic appearances.
The women’s squad is highlighted by national record holders and now two-time Olympians Danielle Hill, Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe.
Hill is slated to race the 100m back and 50m free, McSharry the 100m and 200m breast and Walshe will take on the 100m fly and both IM events.
The women’s roster also boasts Ireland’s youngest Olympian across all sports, with relay member Grace Davison just 16 years of age.
Aquatics team leader Jon Rudd said of Ireland’s Olympic lineup, “The largest team and the most competitive team ever, says it all.
“These athletes have been progressing, gaining confidence and delivering in key moments ever since we said farewell to Tokyo.
“We have numerous athletes here that sit amongst the very best in their events on a worldwide basis and there isn’t a swimming or a diving day that anyone can afford to miss.
Our individual event athletes are all high performers in the truest sense and our three relays are at full strength. It’s a real pleasure to be able to name twelve swimmers to this team and to also add Ciara to the diving team alongside Jake.
“There’s talent, ambition and dedication across all of those that will be on the plane with us and we have an excellent team of staff to support them through the Holding Camp which starts on the 16th July, through to the competition days themselves. We know that the island of Ireland will all be behind us – and that spurs us on even more.” (Swim Ireland)
2024 Olympic Games (Swimming) – Paris, France
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Name | Home Programme | Home Programme Coach | Event/s |
Victoria Catterson
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National Centre (Dublin), Ireland
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Steven Beckerleg
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Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)
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Grace Davison
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Ards SC, Ireland
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Curtis Coulter
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Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)
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Tom Fannon
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National Centre (Dublin), Ireland
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Steven Beckerleg
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Male 50m Freestyle
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Conor Ferguson
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Loughborough University, England
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Ian Hulme
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Male 400m Medley Relay
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Darragh Greene
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National Centre (Dublin), Ireland
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Steven Beckerleg
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Male 400m Medley Relay
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Danielle Hill
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Larne SC, Ireland
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Peter Hill
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Female 100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle Relay & 400m Medley Relay |
Max McCusker
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Millfield School, England
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Ryan Livingstone
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Male 400m Medley Relay
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Mona McSharry
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University of Tennessee, USA
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Matt Kredich
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Female 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke & 400m Medley Relay |
Erin Riordan
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National Centre (Dublin), Ireland
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Steven Beckerleg
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Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)
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Shane Ryan
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National Centre (Dublin), Ireland
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Steven Beckerleg
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Male 400m Medley Relay
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Ellen Walshe
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Templeogue SC, Ireland
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Brian Sweeney
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Female 100m Butterfly, 200m IM, 400m IM & 400m Medley Relay |
Daniel Wiffen
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Loughborough University, England
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Andi Manley
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Male 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle & Open Water 10km |
(*) – TBC following Female 400m Freestyle Relay
Does Ireland have an anchor for their Women’s 400 MR who is fast enough to get them into the final? That would be a big accomplishment!
As a side note, I wonder whether Siobhan Haughey ever considered swimming for Ireland vs Hong Kong? It would be a long process for her to switch her sporting citizenship now, but I suppose when she had to make that decision Ireland didn’t have as developed a national aquatic program as it does now.
Can’t comment on Ireland’s position but Hong Kong REALLY look after their athletes so unless Ireland match Hong Kong’s incentives it would be a no brainer for most people.
Hmmm…they’ve selected athletes for the women’s 4x100m free relay, an event they failed to finish within the top 16 (combined) from either Fukuoka 23 or Doha 24. I wonder if this means one of the other 16 nations have opted out and have therefore provided a pathway for Ireland to take up a spot?
Does Wiffen have any prior 10km results?
I hadn’t heard about this new rule until now. It seems good but I remember the selection process for the places being brutal earlier in the season. Was this always known about? Didn’t Paltrinieri have a guy swim for his spot or something?
I’ll admit that I didn’t know about this until a few weeks ago. I can’t say for sure when it was added.
Yes Paltrinieri – but this loophole only works if your country doesn’t have 2 qualifiers already, which Italy wouldn’t. So this rule certainly benefits people from lesser open water nations.
No prior international 10k results for Wiffen that I am aware of, he may have previous domestic 10k swims to his resume but I am not aware of that.
Qualifying for Paris Openwater races were released prior to 2023 Openwater World Champs and included the ability for eligible Pool 800 and 1500 swimmers to enter the Olympic 10km race provided their nation did not already have 2 swimmers entered each gender. Nations received Olympic Openwater quota spots via the results from 2024 Openwater World Champs results (which each nation could give to any athlete they deemed fit, regardless of the athlete that earned this quota spot at 2024 World Champs) which in the case of Italy (where Verani earned a… Read more »
This is 🔥🔥🔥. Love it and can’t wait to see it.
Will he though? Where are they gonna swim?
They announced a Plan B yesterday – https://staging.swimswam.com/seine-river-conditions-improving-but-olympic-organizers-unveil-plan-b-for-open-water-swimming/#:~:text=After%20facing%20criticism%20for%20months,already%20hosting%20rowing%20and%20canoe
Where was Wiffen born. Totally confusing
Northern Ireland, so was eligible to compete for Ireland or GB.
Why did he chose Ireland
Because he is Irish
Up the Ra