Daniel Coyle, a 29-year-old from County Derry, emerged as a rising star in showjumping when he moved to North America in 2016. It’s where he won his first World Cup, Nations Cup, and five-star Grand Prix, which he achieved while riding the star mare Cita. Despite this being Coyle’s first Olympic Games, he secured Ireland’s spot in it by being part of the fourth-placing Irish team at the 2022 World Championships. Coyle’s mount, a 14-year-old mare named Legacy, is said to be his most talented ride to date. His comparison of her to the renowned US racehorse star from the 1930s, Sea Biscuit, attests to her skills. After a victorious partnership at the five-star London Grand Prix last year, Coyle and Legacy’s winning streak carried into 2024. In addition to that, Coyle also triumphed at a five-star competition in Canada aboard the gelding, Farrel. Coyle splits his time between North America and Europe.
Then there’s the 43-year-old Shane Sweetnam from County Cork, who is about to participate in his second Olympics, having previously competed in Tokyo. Sweetnam started as an international pony rider and later migrated to the US, over 20 years ago, to further his career. He spends the winters in Florida and the summers in Kentucky. Sweetnam was part of the triumphant Irish team at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg and finished second at the same event last year in Milan. Sweetnam and James Kaan Cruz – a grey horse – solidified their partnership with a win at their first World Cup event last year in Lexington, elevating them to one of the highest-ranking partnerships in the sport.
Finally, at 45, Cian O’Connor is a veteran in the field of showjumping. He has previously competed at the Athens 2004, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, always finishing in the fourth position.
Cian O’Connor, aged 45, has been a prominent figure in Irish showjumping for nearly two decades. He secured an individual bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, marking Ireland’s first equestrian medal. Tokyo 2021 marked his fourth Olympic participation, where he ranked seventh in the individual contest. However, O’Connor faced controversy in 2004 when he was disqualified from his gold victory in Athens after his horse, Waterford Crystal, failed a drugs test. The subsequent investigation involving the stolen B-sample of Waterford Crystal concluded that O’Connor had not intentionally influenced the horse’s performance. He later became part of the triumphant European Championship team in 2017 and bagged an individual bronze as well. Partnering with the Belgian breed Maurice, O’Connor operates from Karlswood in County Meath.
49-year-old Austin O’Connor, a native of Mallow, County Cork, resides in Oxfordshire, England. He debuted at the Olympics in Sydney 2000, and achieved eighth place in the team category at Beijing 2008. Following Cathal Daniels’ withdrawal, Austin was advanced from first reserve to 13th place in the individual with Colorado Blue in Tokyo. The same horse will accompany him in Paris.
Sarah Ennis, also 49, hailing from Howth, County Dublin, will be attending her second Olympics having ranked 36th individually and aided Ireland to secure the eighth spot in Tokyo. She gained a fifth-place finish at the 2018 World Championships and clinched a silver in the team race. Ennis operates from near Batterstown, County Meath, and her horse Action Lady Me has consistently ranked in the top-ten of their international matches throughout the year.
28-year-old Susie Berry is set to make her Olympic debut in the eventing category.
Susie Berry, 28, originally hails from Dromore, Co Down, but she migrated to England in 2014. This young European junior champion will make her maiden appearance at the Olympic Games. In 2022, her contributions to the Irish team helped them secure a fifth-place finish at the World Championships, and consequently, a spot in the Olympics. Remarkably, Berry managed to bounce back from serious injuries including concussion, broken ribs and a liver laceration only a year ago. Her upcoming challenge will see her riding Wellfields Lincoln in Paris.
Meet Abigail Lyle, another debutant at the Olympics. Despite a non-equine upbringing, the 39-year-old Bangor, Co Down native made waves a decade ago making her international debut. She transplanted to England in 2009 and presently, conducts training for ten horses in the Cotswolds. At the most recent World Championships in Denmark, Lyle and her horse, Giraldo, represented the country. Indeed, they started this year impressively by gaining victory in Addington. The Dressage event will witness her skills.
Her age: 28.
Her previous games: None.