The Irish rowers had a triumphant beginning on the first day of the Olympic Games, with both the male’s and female’s double sculls teams earning immediate progression to their respective semi-finals. The weather at Vaires-sur-Marne was rainy, though with favourable water conditions, Team Ireland’s two crews encountered no obstacles.
Team Ireland’s male double sculls team of Phil Doyle and Daire Lynch set a positive precedent, comfortably clinching the final heat out of three. They secured a direct semi-final entrance, meaning they have bypassed the Sunday morning repechage. Despite hovering at the third spot in the initial 500-metre marker, they maintained the fastest speed, climbing the ranks as the race progressed. They qualified for Tuesday morning’s semi-finals and now hold the fastest time after three heats, affording them a more advantageous lane.
First-timers, Alison Bergin from Fermoy and Zoe Hyde from Killorglin, also made straight progress into the women’s double sculls semi-finals with their third position finish in the heat.
Elsewhere, Ireland secured an impressive 17-14 victory against the United States in the men’s rugby Sevens semi-final, thanks to late tries by Zac Ward and Terry Kennedy at the Stade de France. Despite an initial lead from Hugo Lennox’s try and conversion, they were temporarily at a 7-14 disadvantage in the second half due to the converted US tries by Aaron Cummings and Perry Baker. Ireland finally ranked sixth after a second defeat to New Zealand in the 5th-place playoff decider at the Stade de France, with the All Blacks winning 17-7.
In an impressive finale, Ward demonstrated his skills as one of Ireland’s top performers in the current Olympic Games, scoring late tries along with Kennedy, regarded as the ultimate finisher. Kennedy managed to score during extra time, pulling along with him Marcus Tupuola, a player from the US team, triggering robust jubilation among the throngs of Irish fans gathered at Stade de France.
The most significant applause of the evening, however, was showered on the homestead French team during the men’s gold-medal match. Captain Antoine Dupont magnificently guided his team to defeat Fiji, the reigning double Olympic champions, ending their 17-game undefeated streak in the competition by beating them 28-7 in the final.
Dupont made two successful tries after being substituted onto the field and scored the final points by emerging from a maul to make a dive. He was also credited with assisting a try.
In Boxing, Dean Clancy took a harsh blow in the first round in a close match against Obada Al-Kasbeh, which ended with a split decision, favouring Al-Kasbeh. The judges sided with Al-Kasbeh, leaving the 22-year-old Irish contender with a difficult task against a more seasoned opponent. Ultimately, he lost with a final score of 27-29, 28-28, 29-27, 28-28, 27-29.
From the Cycling arena, Ryan Mullen of Ireland braved severe weather to secure the 12th position in the Olympic time trial. The race was made difficult due to the rain that has marred the commencement of the Games. The gold medal was won by Remco Evenepoel of Belgium, who had also secured third place in the Tour de France just six days earlier. The bronze medal was secured by his Belgian teammate, Wout van Aert.
Participating in his first Olympics, Mullen was the fastest finisher for 88 seconds before the entry of more veteran time trialists. Reflecting on the course, Mullen commented on the hard conditions that were posed by the drains, corners, and cobbles.
In Hockey, the Irish men’s team started their Paris 2024 campaign with a 2-0 loss to reigning Olympic champions Belgium, despite putting up a valiant defensive effort. The match was held at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, the site of the original 1924 Olympic stadium.
In their first Olympic appearance since Rio 2016, the Irish team, led by Seán Murray, put up a strong fight against the world’s third-ranked side. Despite their endeavour, Belgium’s greater ball possession and territorial dominance saw them triumph on the scoreboard, ushered by goals from Tom Boon and Alexander Hendrickx in the second and third quarters.
Swimming events at the Paris Le Défense Arena started with Ellen Walshe and the Irish Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay team springing into action. Walshe marked her second Olympic appearance with a 58.70 time, ranking sixth in her 100m butterfly heat.
The women’s 4x100m freestyle relay featured Erin Riordan, Victoria Catterson, Grace Davison making their Olympic debut alongside Tokyo Olympian Danielle Hill. The team made its first appearance in the female relay since Munich 1972. They narrowly missed the Irish record of 3:41.75, clocking 3:42.67 and finishing eighth in their heat following a tight contest with Hong Kong who finished slightly ahead at 3:42.42.
Equestrian
Irish team eventing commenced with Sarah Ennis and her horse, Action Lady M, scoring 38.0 in dressage at the Palace of Versailles. An error made by the Olympian horse in front of the big screen meant progress needed to be made in the cross-country event. The duo started from the 54th position looking forward to the show jumping event on Monday.
Susie Berry, the second Irish rider, was pleased with her Olympic debut scoring 33.0 for 32nd position with Wellfields Lincoln. The eventer from Banbridge aged 28 commented on the experience as surreal. Despite the horse’s typically skittish nature, he performed admirably, although tension cost him some moves that he typically executes with ease.
Austin O’Connor, Ireland’s final participant in eventing, earned 31.7 points and currently holds the 28th spot on the leaderboard. Team eventing champion from Tokyo, Great Britain’s Laura Collett, is leading following the dressage, scoring 17.5, slightly ahead of German’s Michael Jung, a three-time Olympic medallist, who scored 17.8.
In the world of Canoeing, Liam Jegou made a comeback after an unimpressive initial effort to secure his place in the Monday’s semi-finals by claiming the 16th and last spot. Following his second run, he told RTÉ it was likely the toughest day he’s ever experienced on the water.
In the women’s kayak (K1) competition, it was a blow for 21-year-old Madison Corcoran, who didn’t manage to qualify for the semi-finals.