Ireland could find itself among the medals in Athletics at this year's Olympics for the first time since 2012.
In the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Irish athletes won gold and bronze medals in rowing and boxing.
Three years on, observers are increasingly confident Team Ireland has a chance at medals in several other sports – including athletics and swimming.
“There are two live medal chances for Ireland,” sports journalist Cathal Dennehy told The Pat Kenny Show.
“Within the blue ribbon sport of the Olympics in that Olympic Stadium, two of the blue ribbon events should have Irish medal contenders.
“They are the women’s 400m and the women’s 1,500m.
“Realistically, it’s hard to see any other event producing a medal for Ireland.”
Last year, Ciara Mageean and Rhasidat Adeleke were jointly awarded Athlete of the Year by Athletics Ireland.
✨Athlete of the Year Award✨
Joint winners for 2023! There was just no way to split them!!!
We 💚 Ciara & Rhasidat🤩
Proudly supported by https://t.co/8kNu8qkSSg ✨#NationalAthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/LtCOv6KYZX— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) November 22, 2023
Both were tantalisingly close to winning medals at the World Championships in Budapest and have a “realistic” chance of doing so in Paris this summer.
“[Mageean] had a little hamstring strain this year, that’s why we didn’t see her in Glasgow,” Mr Dennehy said.
“But this time last year, Ciara missed about two months of training with a torn tendon in her ankle.
“That will not hold her back when it comes to the summer; as I understand it, she’s back training, she’s healthy… She will very much be a contender.”
Does anyone know what day R1 of the women's 1500m is at the Paris Olympics?
Ticket sales says the 4th.
Nearly every other source online including the IAAF timetable says the 6th!
Just asking as I'd love for my family to be able to buy tickets to watch me race @Olympics— Ciara Mageean (@ciaramageean) February 24, 2023
Meanwhile, Adeleke has been tipped to replace one of the middle runners in the four by four relay race.
“It could be a little bit difficult for the Irish because the final of the women’s 400m is [the same day as] the heats of the women’s four by four 100m,” Mr Dennehy said.
“So, if that Irish women’s team is to make the final, they will have to do so, assuming Rhasidat makes the final and, possibly, Charlene Maudsley has an outside chance of making an Olympic final.
“If that happens, neither of them will be available for the heats, so it will be a tall order for the Irish team to get into the final.”
Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) has finished fourth at her first-ever Diamond League meet in Monaco this evening 💎🤩
⏱ 49.99
🔗 https://t.co/nXKZmIfltX#IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/bR5WcFJf4Z— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 21, 2023
If Adeleke is available, then Mr Dennehy believes Ireland will certainly be a “top five contender”.
“It might take the run of their lives for all four to get towards that medal,” he said.
“But it’s a realistic outside chance because the talent is there.”
The Olympics begin in Paris on July 26th.
Main image: Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke after finishing fifth in the women's 400m final during day seven of the 2022 European Championships in Munich, Germany. Picture by: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
