MAYO’S MICHAEL DUFFY SELECTED FOR YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES IN CHINA

  • 24 July 2014, 17:30

MAYO’S Michael Duffy has been selected to represent Ireland in the equestrian element of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China from August 19 to 24.

Ireland secured a place in the Games, where the competition will be run on borrowed horses, due to Bertram Allen’s silver medal at the European Junior Championships last year. 

As Bertram Allen is now over age for the 2014 games 18 year-old Michael Duffy was nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland by Horse Sport Ireland to represent his country at the Games. 

He will be accompanied by Horse Sport Ireland’s Junior High Performance Manager Comdt. John Ledingham.

All of the selected athletes were invited to a briefing day by the OCI this week.OCI President Pat Hickey welcomed Chef de Mission Martin Burke and Team Ireland to the Nanjing 2014 Team Day in Howth Yacht Club.Presentations and interactive sessions on all aspects of preparations for Nanjing were discussed in detail with athletes , support personnel, and parents in preparation for Nanjing 2014.

Team Ireland leave shortly for their pre Games training camp – 7th – 14th August at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, before transferring to the Youth Olympic Games Village in Nanjing.

The Nanjing 2014 Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre stadium at 20:00 on 16 August 2014, with competition starting on the 17th August.

Ireland is represented by 16 athletes in 7 sports, with 14 performance support staff.

Athletes are as follows:

Athletics: Adam King (Hammer), Roseanna McGuckian (200m), Louise Shanahan (800m), Eoin Sheridan (discus), Michaela Walsh (shotput)

Boxing: Michael Gallagher, Christina Desmond, Ciara Ginty

Canoeing: Robert Hendrick

Equestrian: Michael Duffy

Golf: Kevin Le Blanc, Olive Mehaffey

Rowing: Eimear Lambe
Swimming: Laoise Fleming, Dearbhail McNamara, Calum Bain

Support Staff: Martin Burke (Chef de Mission), Gary Power (Athletics), Stephen Connolly and Billy McClean (Boxing), Eoin Rheinisch (Canoeing), John Ledingham (Equestrian), Dave Kearney (Golf), Clare Cox (Rowing), Pearse McGuigan (Swimming), Dr Dave Fegan/Dr Rod McLoughlin, Sinead Murphy and Niamh Maguire (Medical), and Leah Ewart (Team Ireland Young Ambassador and 2010 Singapore Youth Olympian)

Michael Duffy (second right, back row) seen with the rest of the Irish Youth Olympic team at Howth Yacht Club.

Michael Duffy (second right, back row) seen with the rest of the Irish Youth Olympic team at Howth Yacht Club.