The FIA has officially confirmed an Olympic training team for Paris 2024.
The team includes the five fighters already qualified for Paris and those who hope to compete in the next qualifiers, first in Italy and then in Thailand.
Rumors circulating suggest that the team for the first qualifying tournament was chosen this week, but the fact that there are several boxers at various weights suggests that a final decision has not yet been made. The most notable absentee is European gold medal winner Gabriel Dossen, suggesting Kelyn Cassidy will compete in the heats at 80kg.
An FIA press release shared today says:
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is pleased to formally name the 22-member Paris 2024 Olympic training squad.
This high-performance team includes five Paris-qualified athletes: reigning lightweight champion Kellie Harrington, now Olympic doubles Aoife O’Rourke and Michaela Walsh, Jack Marley and Dean Clancy. Also in the team are world, European and Commonwealth champions and medalists.
High performance head coach Zauri Antia says: “This is an incredibly talented team, and it is an achievement to be named within it – the boxers, their club coaches and their families can be rightly proud.”
The IABA prepares to compete for qualification in the 8 remaining Olympic weights available at the Olympic World Qualifiers in Busto Arsizio, Italy, from February 29 to March 12 and in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3.
Zauri Antia adds: “Having five boxers qualified for the Paris Olympics at the European Games is proof of their commitment and the quality of their training and preparation. “Our aim now is to get more boxers flying to Paris and once again highlight boxing as the most successful Olympic sport in Ireland.”
50kg Daina Moorehouse Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Westport, Co. Mayo
54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
54kg Jennifer Lehane DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
60kg Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
66kg Amy Broadhurst, St Bronagh ABC, Newry
66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
51kg Ricky Nesbitt, Holy Family, Drogheda
57kg Dylan Eagleson, St. Paul’s ABC, Antrim
57kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles ABC, Tyrone
57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
71kg Dean Walsh, St. Ibar’s/St Joseph’s BC, Wexford
80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Crystal of the Savior, Waterford
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Crumlin BC, Dublin
“There are less than 200 days until the opening bell in Paris; These 22 boxers are focused on that goal, with the support of high-performance coaching and administrative staff, as well as the expertise of Sport Institute Ireland sports scientists in the areas of nutrition, strength and conditioning, physiology, physiotherapy and sports psychology”.
In addition, Elite athletes will participate in the newly created High Performance Unit Visiting Athletes Program. Tricia Heberle, says: “It is vital, as we prepare for Paris, that we continue to identify and develop the immense talent in boxing clubs across the IABA. The Visiting Athlete Program is designed to allow us to do that, while also focusing on preparing and qualifying athletes for the Games. “In this we have great support from the Institute of Sport and Sport Ireland and the Olympic Federation of Ireland.”
