BBC NI at the Olympics

Image source, Inpho

Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth in the men's golf competition at Paris 2024 after a costly double bogey at the 15th hole saw him tumble down a leaderboard ultimately topped by American Scottie Scheffler at 19-under-par.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland had started the final round four shots off the leaders but over the front nine appeared to lose any momentum he had gained from playing his first three holes in two-under-par.

He would catch fire at the turn, however, with a run of five consecutive birdies lifting him into a tie for third.

The double bogey would abruptly end that hot streak, his second shot on the 15th rolling off the green and into the water to effectively derail his medal hopes.

Finishing with three consecutive pars, his 15 under total saw him end up two shots behind the bronze medallist, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

McIlroy's Irish team-mate Shane Lowry finished five-under-par and in a tie for 26th place.

Image source, Inpho

Nicola Tuthill has failed to progress to the women's hammer final in Paris after finishing 16th in qualifying on Sunday morning.

The 20-year-old Cork athlete had a best throw of 69.90 but that was good enough to make the top 12 to go through.

Tuthill was just 1.16m short of making the final on her Games debut.

Finland's Krista Tervo topped qualifying with 74.79 with Camryn Rogers of Canada second and American DeAnna Price third.

Image source, Inpho

Daniel Wiffen has joked that he "feels like Simone Biles" after his first Olympic gold medal brought him some newfound fame.

Wiffen won Team Ireland's first gold of the Paris Games when he triumphed in a thrilling 800 metre freestyle final on Tuesday.

In doing so, he also became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal in 36 years.

Wiffen said his success has brought him plenty of new attention, which led him to compare himself to the USA's superstar gymnast Simone Biles, who won her third gold of the Games on Saturday.

"I actually think I'm probably like one of the most famous Olympic champions," the 23-year-old said.

"I've got a distinct look about me because I think every sport comes up to me in the dining hall and asks for photos.

"I feel like Simone Biles."

When asked if he was enjoying being recognised, Wiffen said: "Yeah, I like it"

"I mean, why not? It's pretty cool."

He also said that he's had "five hundred" photos taken with him since his win.

"I've been signing autographs and everything.

"They wait outside my building when I come out for breakfast for photos."

Wiffen will look to secure a historic second gold medal when he competes in the 1500m freestyle final at La Defense Arena at 17:37 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy says he is "excited" for the opportunity to chase an Olympic medal when the men's golf event concludes on Sunday.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland goes into the final round at Le Golf National in a tie for sixth and four shots off leaders Xander Schauffele of the USA and Spain's Jon Rahm.

McIlroy was initially sceptical of golf's introduction to the Olympics, and did not compete for Team Ireland at the first opportunity in Rio, but says his rounds in Paris have been "a lot more fun" than in more traditional big events.

"You don't get this at the Masters," he told BBC Sport in front of a chanting crowd.

"It's a lot more fun. The crowd are so enthusiastic, it's awesome.

"It's an incredible environment to play in and I'm excited to play one more time in it tomorrow."

McIlroy, who won the last of his four majors in 2014, finished in a six-way tie for fourth place in Tokyo three years ago and joked this week that he had never tried so hard to finish third in his career.

This time around, while Schauffele, Rahm and Britain's Tommy Fleetwood will start the final round in the medal positions, McIlroy is joined in the chasing pack by the likes of world number one Scottie Scheffler and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.

"I'm in a really good place in the leaderboard," added McIlroy.

"I was really close to getting a medal last time in Tokyo, I'm in contention to try and get a medal this time around, and I'm excited for that opportunity."

McIlroy, in his first action since missing the cut at the Open last month, is 10 under going into the final round after a 66 on Saturday that featured five birdies and no bogeys.

"I can't complain too much, to play a bogey-free round today with that really being the gameplan," said the world number three.

"I went out today to really try and limit the mistakes. I played the front nine incredibly well again, I've played that nine in three-under-par each day.

"I played the back nine a little better today which was nice to see."

Image source, Getty Images

Team Ireland athlete Cathal Doyle advanced to Sunday's men's 1500m semi-finals by winning heat one of the repechage round on Saturday evening.

Doyle produced a surge in the final 300m to come home first in a time of 3:34.92.

France's Azeddine Habz [3:35.10] and Ossama Meslek of Italy [3:35.32] finished second and third in the heat to also also progress to the next stage.

Luke McCann bowed out however after taking seventh in 3:36.50.

Irish record holder Andrew Coscoran also failed to make the semi-finals as the Dubliner came in 12th in repechage heat two.

Italy's Federico Riva won that heat in 3:32.84, followed by Canada's Charles Philibert- Thiboutot [3:33.53] and Great Britain's George Mills [3:33.56].

Rhys McClenaghan says his Olympic Games gold medal in the pommel horse is reward for a lifetime of work.

The 25-year-old from Newtownards completed gymnastics' 'Grand Slam' after winning gold for Ireland with a stunning routine in Paris.

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Newtownards gymnast Rhys McClenaghan says Olympic gold is a "dream come true" after his disappointment in Tokyo.

Three years ago, the 25-year-old was among the favourites for a medal but slipped from the pommel horse and ultimately finished seventh in what was his Olympic debut.

At his second Games in Paris, the Team Ireland gymnast produced a sensational routine, taking gold with a personal best score of 15.533 ahead of Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov and the USA's Stephen Nedoroscik.

"I knew it was possible," he told BBC Sport of topping the podium.

"I knew it was possible back in Tokyo as well but it didn't happen. This was the comeback I needed and it happened.

"A dream come true. I can't believe I've done it on this day."

McClenaghan's is the sixth medal by an athlete from Northern Ireland in Paris and he joins rower Hannah Scott and swimmers Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan in claiming gold.

Prior to these Games, athletes from Northern Ireland had won three gold medals in Olympic history.

Even after reaching the pinnacle of his sport, McClenaghan added his natural inclination was to think of what he could have done better.

"There's always room for improvement," he said.

"I want to go back into the gym right now and work on the improvements but my coach won't let me, probably.

"That's okay. I think he's right in this situation, we need to celebrate our Olympic title."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Bercy Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Rhys McClenaghan has completed gymnastics' 'Grand Slam' after winning pommel horse gold at the Paris Olympics with a stunning routine.

The fourth to perform his routine, the Team Ireland gymnast was flawless as his score of 15.533 edged Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov by just 0.100.

The USA's Stephen Nedoroscik was third with 15.200.

Team GB's Max Whitlock, who went second, scored a 15.200, just 0.333 down on McClenaghan and had to settle for fourth place.

After a flawless run, McClenaghan's coach Luke Carson had his head on his hands just before the dismount.

When the Newtownards gymnast landed it, both let out a huge roar and there was an emotional embrace between the pair.

There was a nervous wait as the remaining four gymnasts took to the pommel horse, with Nedoroscik going closest while backed by the vocal USA support who had just witnessed Simone Biles win gold in the women's vault final.

McClenaghan becomes the fourth athlete from Northern Ireland to win a gold medal at these Olympics.

The 25-year-old joins swimmer Daniel Wiffen and GB's Hannah Scott in converting their world titles into Olympic gold.

Jack McMillan also won a gold medal after helping Team GB to first place in the 4x200m freestyle.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy fired a third round of five-under-par 66 at Le Golf National on Saturday to lie in tied sixth place on 10 under in the men's Olympic golf competition.

The world number three posted a bogey-free round to stay in contention for a medal, four shots behind the joint leaders.

McIlroy recorded birdies at the first, third, ninth, 11th and 14th holes during his round.

His fellow Team Ireland competitor Shane Lowry also carded a 66 to improve to five under for the competition, which finishes on Sunday.

Spain's Jon Rahm and American Xander Schauffele lead on 14 under after round three, with England's Tommy Fleetwood third on 13 under.

Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Hideki Matsuyama from Japan are tied for fourth on 11 under.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at the Paris La Defense Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Both of Team Ireland’s 4x100m medley relay squads set new national records in the heats on the penultimate day of action in the pool.

The men’s squad of Conor Ferguson, Darragh Greene, Max McCuster and Shane Ryan finished 11th overall in a time of 3:33.81, breaking the previous figures of 3:34.62.

The women’s quartet of Danielle Hill, bronze medallist from the individual 100m breaststroke Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and 16-year-old Grace Davison also finished in 11th place, setting a new Irish record of 4:00.12 and smashing the previous best of 4:01.75.

The men were led off by Larne’s Conor Ferguson, who after eight years of getting so close to becoming an Olympian, finally did so on the backstroke leg.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” he said afterwards.

”I was a bit disappointed with my own swim but the team swam great and it’s nice to set a new record although I think we could have made that final.”

Hill, meanwhile, swam her third quickest time ever in the heats of the 50m freestyle of 25.02 to finish 21st overall.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at the Paris La Défense Arena

Image source, Inpho

Daniel Wiffen’s quest to become a double gold medallist at the Paris Olympics is gaining momentum.

He even surprised himself with how fast he went in the 1500m freestyle heats, posting a time of 14:40.34, over two seconds quicker that Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri.

The two men battled each other in the 800m freestyle final on Tuesday with Wiffen taking gold and Paltrinieri the bronze.

”I don't think I put a hard stroke in at all,” said Wiffen.

“It was a very fast time to be fair I thought I went around 14.45 and to go 14.40 now I mean that's pretty pretty good for the heats, fastest I've ever been and it's a top five time for me so I'm pretty happy with that.”

Wiffen will go into Sunday’s final as favourite and he‘s using the motivation of breaking the world record held by Sun Yang of 14:31.02 set at the 2012 Olympics in London as part of his preparations.

“I'd love to become a double Olympic champion but I think it's not going to be easy. It's kind of hard because my goal for this meet was to win an Olympic gold and I've already done it so I've had to think of new ways to keep motivated.

“I know I said previously that I wanted to have a crack at the Sun Yang record and you know I'm gonna have a try and if I get it I get it but if I don't I don't, but I reckon to win the gold I'm gonna need to go on the world record.”

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Paris

Image source, Getty Images

There has been a little more Northern Ireland success on the final day of rowing at Vaires-sur-Marne.

London 2012 silver medallist Richard Chambers from Coleraine has coached the Great Britain women’s eight to a bronze medal.

Chambers, who has taken time away from his coaching job at Leander Rowing Club in London in order to be part of the Olympic coaching team, has helped GB to only the second medal in the history of the event following on from a silver in Rio, eight years ago.

The rowing regatta in Paris ends with a gold for Hannah Scott, silver for Rebecca Shorten and bronze for Philip Doyle and now the coaching success for Chambers.

Quite a week for Northern Ireland rowers.

Image source, @jackmcmillan4

Belfast's Olympic gold medallist Jack McMillan took to social media on Friday to pay tribute to his late mother as he and team mate Kieran Bird received their medals.

The pair swam for Team GB as they qualified through the 4 x 200m relay heats on Tuesday but were not selected to win in the final.

Only the four swimmers that took place in the final - Tom Dean, Matt Richard, Duncan Scott and James Guy - appeared on top of the podium but McMillan and Bird were rewarded for their participation in the heats with gold medals.

"What a special moment," McMillan posted on social media., external

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my career, I appreciate it.

"It’s been a challenging journey to get to this point, with transitioning nation, to better my career and my mum passing last year, I knew I had to give my everything and be resilient, both in and out of the pool."

McMillan previously swam for Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics before switching to Team GB in 2022.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Paris Olympics

Image source, Getty Images

In Daniel Wiffen and Hannah Scott, two of the three world champions from Northern Ireland have delivered in Paris.

Now it's the turn of Rhys McClenaghan to go for Olympic gold.

The 25-year-old qualified for the pommel horse final in first position for Team Ireland, just ahead of GB's Max Whitlock and Stephen Nedoroscik of the USA.

Can he deliver on the Olympic stage? We'll find out from 16:15 BST at the Bercy Arena.

Speaking of champions, Olympic 800m freestyle winner Wiffen returns to the pool as he goes in the heats of the 1500m - which he also won at the World Championships in Doha in February.

His heat takes place and 11:05 BST, if successful, the final is on Sunday at 17:37 BST.

Danielle Hill is also in action at the La Defense Arena in the heats of the 50m freestyle at 10:19 BST, with a potential semi-final at 19:40 BST.

In addition, Hill will be part of Ireland's 4x100m medley relay heats at 11:52 BST when she races alongside fellow Northern Irishwoman Grace Davison, Ellen Walshe and 100m breaststroke bronze medallist Mona McSharry.

Ards swimmer Davison, at 16, will be making her Olympic debut as she swims the closing freestyle leg.

Also in the morning session (11:40 BST), Conor Ferguson will race the breaststroke leg in the men's 4x100m medley relay as he swims in an Ireland quartet alongside Shane Ryan, Max McCusker and Darragh Greene.

Dublin boxer Kellie Harrington is already guaranteed a medal ahead of her lightweight semi-final with Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira.

Harrington, who also won gold in Tokyo three years ago, takes to the ring at 21:08 BST.

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy (11:44 BST tee time) and Shane Lowry (9:55 BST) are both in golf action for the penultimate round at Le National.

Team Ireland also have two cyclists - Ben Healy and Ryan Mullen - competing for gold in the men's road race from 10:00 BST with Cathal Doyle, Luke McCann and Andrew Coscoran hoping to make it through to the 1500m semi-finals in athletics. All three will compete in a newly formed repechage round from 18:15 BST.

Other Ireland interest on Saturday sees Eve McMahon and Finn Lynch compete in the sailing while Madison Corcoran, Noel Henderick and Liam Jegou go in the men's kayak.

Image source, Inpho

European Championships gold medallists Ireland failed to qualify for the 4x400m mixed relay final at the Olympic Games as the absence of individual medal hope Rhasidat Adeleke proved too much of a handicap.

Like the majority of athletes targeting medals in the individual 400m events, Adeleke, 21, opted to miss the mixed relay in order to conserve energy and fitness.

Sophie Becker, who will also race in the individual 400m, was her replacement but the Irish quartet struggled as they clocked a time of 3:12.67 to finish fifth.

That wasn't enough to clinch one of the two one of the non-automatic qualifier spots.

The Irish quartet's time was nearly three seconds slower than their European Championship winning mark of 3:09.92 as Great Britain won the semi-final in 3:10.61.

Becker, who ran leg two, was joined in the quartet by Chris O'Donnell, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley, who competed alongside Adeleke in the European Championships final in Rome.

European Championships bronze and silver medallists the Netherlands (3:10.81) and Italy (3:11.59) clinched the other two automatic qualifying spots alongside Great Britain.

In the opening semi-final, the USA quartet set a new world record of 3:07.41 to mark themselves out as strong favourites to clinch the gold medal on Saturday evening.

France (3:10.60) and Belgium (3:10.60) were the other automatic qualifiers from heat one which also produced the two non-automatic qualifiers in Jamaica (3:11.06) and Poland (3:11.43).

On her Olympic debut, Ireland's Jodie McCann finished 20th in her 5,000m semi-final in 15:55.08 with only the top eight securing qualification as she was over 34 seconds slower than her personal best.

Irish shot putter Eric Favours missed out on a final place in his event as a throw of 19.02m - 1.91m shy of his national record set earlier this year - left him 27th of the 31 competitors. A throw of 20.81m would have secured qualification.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland's men ended their Olympic hockey campaign on a high note as they produced an heroic defensive display to defeat New Zealand 2-1 in Paris.

The Kiwis forced 15 penalty corners but Joseph Morrison's fifth-minute goal was the only time they beat magnificent Ireland goalkeeper David Harte.

After Morrison's early goal, Benjamin Walker levelled for the Irish after 13 minutes.

The sides remained level at half-time but Jeremy Duncan put the Irish ahead a minute into the third quarter.

Lee Cole and Michael Robson had chances to extend Ireland's lead but they Irish had to defend stoutly thereafter as Harte continued his heroics and Duncan also made a couple of crucial blocks to deny New Zealand penalty corners.

After losing their opening three games, Ireland's hopes of securing a quarter-finals spot were ended in Thursday's 2-1 defeat by Argentina.