Recap: Day 1/16
Swimming:
Ireland’s first swimmer in the water at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games didn’t advance beyond the heats, but can be happy with the experience with his favoured event on the horizon.
Nicholas Quinn placed 33rd overall in the Men’s 100 Breaststroke after finishing fourth in his heat in a time of 1:01.29. It was the Mayo man’s third fastest ever time over the distance, giving him a good confidence boost heading into the Men’s 200M Breaststroke on Tuesday.
A world record fell in the final heat of the evening as Great Britain’s Adam Peaty touched home in 57.55.
More at http://www.swimireland.ie/quinn-tests-rio-waters-doyle-ryan-ready-for-main-events/
Eventing Team:
Ireland sit in the top ten of the Olympic Eventing Competition at Rio 2016 after a strong performance from Padraig McCarthy and Clare Abbot on day one of the opening Dressage Phase.
McCarthy’s score of 46.80 was a personal best to help position Ireland in sixth at the halfway stage of the first event. Clare Abbott also put in a career best score of 47.00 penalties with the riders sitting in 12th and 13th in the individual rankings.
The Dressage phase will conclude tomorrow with Jonty Evans and Mark Kyle.
Ireland off to great start in opening Dressage phase of Eventing at Rio 2016
Men’s Hockey:
Ireland identified a lack of accuracy as the main reason for their 3-2 loss to India on Day One of the Men’s Field Hockey Competition. Goals from John Jermyn and Conor Harte set up an exciting finish, but ultimately the World’s 5th ranked side took the chances that came their way to claim the win.
“We just didn’t take our chances today,” said Ireland Coach Craig Fulton. “It ebbed and flowed for three quarters and we finished strong in the last quarter after John Jermyn’s goal. We were playing well and had a good few chances but were just not accurate enough.”
More at http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10010085/
Cycling:
In an event described as the ‘toughest ever Olympic Road Race’, Ireland equalled their best ever finish as Dan Martin finished 13th to go into the record books along side Ciaran Power’s performance in Athens in 2004. Nicholas Roche finished 29th of the 144 riders, marking an improvement of 60 places from his finish in London in 2012. It was a gruelling and tactical event with a number of crashes on the tricky descents. Greg van Avarmaet was first home in a sprint finish while Martin was edged out of 12th place in a photo finish with Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
Seriously thanks to the whole @IreCyclingFed crew for the belief and support. We came here to medal but wasn’t to be. Gave it our all
— Dan Martin (@DanMartin86) August 6, 2016
Rowing:
Testing conditions in Rio couldn’t prevent Sanita Puspure from advancing to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Single Sculls. Puspure finished her heat in 09:11.45 despite having to take evasive action to avoid being blown completely off course. Canada’s Carling Zeeman coped well to win the heat to win by 30 seconds while Puspure elected to fight her egyptian counterpart for second, even though she knew the first three home would advance to the next stage. The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
More at http://www.rowingireland.ie/rowing-start-list-rio-olympics-2016/
Gymnastics:
Kieran Behan was the last Irish athlete in action on Day One of Rio 2016 so some may only have noted that he finished 38th in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Qualification. In the early hours of the morning however, he produced one of the most remarkable performances in Irish Olympic history. His 14.33 on the floor in his sixth and final apparatus was not his best score and ultimately derailed his hopes at reaching the final, however it emerged afterwards that the two-time olympian had dislocated his knee at the very start of his routine. Behan carried on despite obvious pain to cap a night of grace and bravery for Ireland. His 12.866 on the Pommel Horse was a personal best as he finished with a final tally of 83.232
