First ever track cyclist and modern pentathlon’s Natalya Coyle bring Team Ireland to 54 Athletes
17 June 2016 – Dublin, Ireland: The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) is today delighted to announce jointly with Cycling Ireland and Pentathlon Ireland, that a further four athletes have been selected to represent Team Ireland at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Team Ireland will now be represented in cycling at Rio 2016 whilst Natalya Coyle is will complete the modern pentathlon team, joining Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe.
Dermot Henihan, the Secretary General of the OCI, said:
“We are all delighted for Natalya, especially as she is an Olympic Council of Ireland Rio 2016 scholarship athlete. Her road to Rio is now complete and shows how the OCI’s help throughout her qualification process delivers real results for individual athletes, with Natalya now going to her second Olympic Games.”
In cycling, Shannon McCurley becomes the first ever woman to qualify for Ireland in a track cycling event by qualifying for the women’s Keirin. Whilst world-class cyclists Nicholas Roche and Dan Martin will compete for Team Ireland in the men’s road race.
Olympic Council of Ireland Chief Executive and Deputy Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephen Martin, said:
“With just under 50 days to go until the start of Rio 2016, the Olympic Council of Ireland continue to work collaboratively with National Federation performance staff and agencies to provide the best possible preparation and planning for Team Ireland athletes.”
Today’s additions bring the total number of selected athletes for Rio 2016 to 54 from 11 sports.
The fifth group of selected athletes is made up of:
Cycling Ireland :
Dan Martin – Men’s Road Race
Nicholas Roche – Men’s Road Race
Shannon McCurley – Women’s Keirin
Pentathlon Ireland:
Natalya Coyle
