The Irish Senior Men’s Gymnastics team have secured qualification for the 2015 European Games in Baku with a strong performance at the European Championships in Sofia.
The team, including 2012 Olympian and multiple World-Cup medallists Kieran Behan, posted an impressive score of 239.225 to place 17th in Europe.
This adds to the already hugely successful showing by the Irish Junior & Senior Women last week in Sofia where the Irish Senior Women also secured qualification for the 2015 European Games. This was in addition to a standout performance by Irish junior Casey Bell who made history by becoming Ireland’s first female gymnast to qualify for the European All-Around final, breaking into Europe’s elite.
Ciaran Gallagher, Gymnastics Ireland CEO commented…
‘Our Men’s & Women’s Teams have produced Irelands best ever performance at a European Championship over the past week. Due to their performance we will have both a full team of Men & Women at the 2015 European Games in Baku – a huge achievement for Gymnastics Ireland. Since 2011 we have been developing our Performance & Technical system and it is clear that across all our gymnastics disciplines we are now producing consistent results of a solid international standard. What is more encouraging is the potential for improvement on these results. On behalf of our organisation I would like to congratulate the entire Irish delegation we sent to Sofia.’
Sally Filmer, Gymnastics Ireland Performance & Technical Manager added…
‘We are pleased that we have qualified both Men’s & Women’s teams for Baku however the focus now shifts to returning home and beginning preparations for the 2014 World Championships in October, the first stage in qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Both teams had a strong showing in Sofia however as always there is room for improvement and this must now become our focus.’
ENDS
Photo Credits: Minkus Images/Gymnastics Ireland
Contact: Ciaran Gallagher
E: [email protected] T:0879050697
