Tokyo Olympics 2021 - Irish heroes 27th July 2021

 


Every time the Olympics comes around, there are the conflicting senses of optimism and pessimism.   We know the likes of the USA, China, GB, Russia (ROC), japan and Germany will dominate to an extent, and our race is pretty much ran before we get there.  But, and there is always a but, Team Ireland has that way of always doing you proud, fighting to the end, plucky minnow against the commercial beasts.

This Olympics is no different. Still in its infant week, the sensational win by the women's hockey team over South Africa sparked the onset of belief that this tournament could be another World Cup repeat.  The defeat to the Netherlands while expected, showed the team are developing and improving tactically  all the time.  Ayeisha McFerran was simply brilliant as she repelled one attack after another, ably assisted by her crew who fought valiantly against the best team in the World.   It was rear-guard action at times, but that's what we expect from Ireland don't we? Never say die, play to the final whistle, wear our hearts on our sleeve and go down fighting.  There is a huge game against a formidable German team coming up and the ever dangerous Pia Martens. Get something from this and we can believe again. The girls have done it before and can do it again.  

Mona McSharry was our shining light in the pool this week. Her first Olympics - what a start!  The first Irish women in a swim final for 25 years and her fantastic week was so heartening to see. Hopefully she can be our trailblazer going forward and the investment can take place to give the resources required for our competitors to compete at this level.

Russell White and Carolyn Hayes showed their battling spirit in the Triathlons with 48th and 23rd places respectively.  These occasions are steep learning curves, up against the best and hopefully they gave inspiration to the legion of young triathletes in Ireland who train religiously for the the various events held up and down the country.

The Olympics is an event where the young and old are equally transfixed but the physicality and force of will shown by the competitors.  The ecstasy and heartbreak highlight the emotion that both the athlete and the viewer both endure, yet it is why we keep coming back to watch - a theatre of emotion and performance.

Here is hoping Ireland will have a few more heroes this week.  Every member of Team Ireland will return as such regardless.



photo courtesy of Olympic Federation of Ireland

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