Paddy Barnes won bronze medals in boxing at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. He is a three time Olympian and was the flag bearer at this third Games, Rio 2016.

Barnes is from Belfast and boxed with the Holy Family Boxing Club, emerging as a leading light flyweight on the international stage.

Barnes also won gold medals at the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games before turning professional. He was later a member of the OFI Athletes Commission, advocating for the next generation of Irish athletes.