BBC NI at the Olympics

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

In a historic Olympics, Rebecca Shorten has become the fifth athlete from Northern Ireland to win a medal in Paris after Team GB won silver in the women's four.

Shorten, along with Helen Glover, Sam Redgrave and Esme Booth, were fastest in qualifying but missed out on gold, which was won by the Netherlands.

In a role reversal of GB's success in the quadruple sculls on Wednesday, in which Hannah Scott from NI won gold - it was the Dutch who pipped the British crew to the line by a margin of 0.19 seconds.

The GB crew looked despondent after the finish line, in contrast with the celebrations of the Dutch who were in the adjacent lane.

"We've done a good job, we would have been very happy with gold and that's what we were going out there for but we'll take the silver," said Belfast's Shorten.

After the dramatic photo finish between the Dutch and GB crews in Monday’s quadruple sculls, it was the same two nations who led the way in the women’s four.

There was nothing to separate the crews at the 1,000m mark of the race as the Dutch held a narrow lead of 0.31 seconds.

That margin barely changed as the bows of the boats swapped positions on several occasions on the run to the line.

It was the Dutch who were able to celebrate gold, while Great Britain had to settle for silver.

Shorten joins Philip Doyle in winning a medal at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Thursday, after he helped Ireland to bronze in the men's double sculls alongside Daire Lynch.

Their medals take the tally for athletes from Northern Ireland to five after golds for Daniel Wiffen, Jack McMillan and Scott.

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As recently as Tuesday morning, athletes from Northern Ireland had accounted for three gold medals in the history of the Olympic Games.

In the space of around 16 hours, Daniel Wiffen, Jack McMillan and Hannah Scott doubled that tally.

Incredibly two more medals were won early on Thursday.

Banbridge rower Philip Doyle, partnered by Daire Lynch, finished third to win bronze for Team Ireland in the men's double sculls before Belfast's Rebecca Shorten, along with Helen Glover, Esme Booth and Sam Redgrave, claimed silver for Great Britain in the women's four in another classic rowing final.

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Among the biggest stars on show will be the men's golfers with their four-round, strokeplay competition teeing off at Le Golf National, the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.

Rory McIlroy, in his first action since missing the Open cut at Royal Troon, has spoken about his desire to win a medal after coming fourth in Tokyo three years ago.

Playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler of America and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, McIlroy opened with an up-and-down three-under 68, leaving him five shots adrift of Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

McIlroy's Irish team-mate Shane Lowry was out at 10.44 BST with Byeong Hun An of South Korea and Canadian Nick Taylor.

In equestrian, Derry's Daniel Coyle helped Team Ireland reach Friday's team showjumping final alongside Shane Sweetnam and Cian O'Connor.

Huge day in hockey pool stages

In hockey, Team GB, captained by David Ames from Northern Ireland, came from behind to beat hosts France at 11:45 BST and seal a quarter-final place.

However, having lost their previous three contests, Ireland's medal hopes were ended after they were beaten 2-1 by Argentina.

In boxing, heavyweight Jack Marley will join Kellie Harrington in guaranteeing a second Irish medal if he beats Tajikistan's Davlat Boltaev in his quarter-final at 21:08 BST.

With six of the Irish boxing team already beaten, Olympic debutant Daina Moorehouse takes to the ring at 19:00 BST to face Wassila Lkhadiri of the host nation.

The 22-year-old flyweight from Bray received a bye in the last-32.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Philip Doyle became the fourth athlete from Northern Ireland to win a medal at the Paris Olympics as he finished third in the men's rowing double sculls with Daire Lynch.

The Team Ireland rowers clocked 6:15.17, finishing behind gold medal winners Romania (6:12.58) and the Netherlands (6:13.92).

Doyle, from Banbridge in county Down, joined Daniel Wiffen, Jack McMillan and Hannah Scott in winning medals at the Games, which have become the most successful in history for athletes from Northern Ireland, and some 20 minutes later, Rebecca Shorten added to the tally by clinching silver in the Great Britain women's four boat.

After settling into the race in fifth position, Doyle and Lynch pressed in the final 500 metres to pull away from the United States and take bronze by less than two seconds.

Doyle and Lynch celebrated after realising their achievement, and were beaming with pride as they were presented with their bronze medals.

The crew's success is also Ireland's third medal of the Games after swimmers Wiffen and Mona McSharry won gold and bronze in the pool.

Securing a bronze medal had been a long-awaited moment for Doyle, who still felt the need to apologise for his performance at the Tokyo Games three years ago when the double sculls crew failed to medal.

However, he made no mistake this time around as both he and Lynch put in a strong showing in the draining Paris heat.

After impressing on their way to reaching the final, Doyle and Lynch settled into fifth position as Spain and Romania set the early pace at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

Fifth became fourth as the Irish crew tried to close on Romania and the Dutch, who had worked their way into the lead of the race. In the closing metres, the Irish crew pulled away from the USA to clinch bronze.

Doyle and Shorten became the latest rowers from Northern Ireland to win medals in the space of 24 hours after Scott helped Team GB to gold in the women’s quadruple sculls on Wednesday.

Image source, Inpho

Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch have won a bronze medal for Ireland in the men's double sculls at the Paris Olympics.

Image source, Inpho

Mona McSharry's bid for a second Olympic medal at Paris 2024 is over after she failed to make the final of the 200m breaststroke.

The Sligo swimmer had won Ireland's first medal of the Games on Monday evening, and their first in the pool since 1996, when she took bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

She would finish sixth in her 200m semi-final, however, with a time of 2:24.48.

That was only good enough to finish sixth in her race and 11th fastest overall.

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Conor Hall has missed out on a place in Sunday's quarter-finals of the men's individual archery in agonising fashion.

The 28-year-old from Northern Ireland had advanced past France's Jean Charles Valladont earlier in the day and faced fellow Team GB member Tom Hall - no relation - in the last-16.

The pair were tied at 5-5 each when, on the final arrow, Tom Hall was closest to the centre mark with his concluding effort.

Their head-to-head came after the two Halls had both represented Great Britain in the men's team event, losing 6-0 to Chinese Taipei on Monday.

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Ireland women's rugby sevens captain Lucy Mulhall Rock has announced her retirement following the team's Olympic Games campaign.

The former Wicklow gaelic footballer captained Ireland to an eighth-place finish at the Paris Games in what was the women team's first qualification for an Olympics.

Mulhall Rock said it had been "the honour of my life to play and captain" the Ireland team over the past 10 years.

"But now it's time for me to step aside and watch my amazing team-mates and friends take this team forward and onto bigger and better things," she added.

Mulhall Rock said. that she had fallen "head over heels in love with sevens since it first came into my life in 2014".

"It's taught me so much over the years."

An injury sustained in Ireland's second pool game against South Africa led to her missing the concluding defeats against Australia, France and Great Britain.

Mulhall Rock made 213 appearances for Ireland in the World Sevens Series.

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Defending Olympic champion Kellie Harrington is guaranteed at least a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games after beating Colombia's Angie Valdes Pana in the quarter-final of the women's 60kg division.

Tokyo gold medallist Harrington secured a unanimous 5-0 decision win and advances to Saturday's semi-finals, where she will face either Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira - who she beat in the Tokyo final - or the Netherlands' Chelsey Heijnen.

The 34-year-old Dubliner led 10-9 on all five judges scorecards after the first round and was able to control the fight until the end.

Harrington joins swimmers Daniel Wiffen (gold) and Mona McSharry (bronze) as Team Ireland's medallists so far in Paris.

Harrington's victory came on what was another otherwise difficult day for Irish boxers.

Jude Gallagher's Olympic debut ended in defeat to Carlo Paalam of the Philippines in the men's 57kg division.

Later, European champion Aoife O'Rourke lost a split decision to Poland's Elzbieta Wojcik in the last-16 of the middleweight division.

The 27-year-old had beaten Wojcik in their previous six meetings but lost a messy encounter in which the Polish fighter was repeatedly warned for holding and was docked a point in the first round.

The Korean and American judges gave every round to Wojcik, while the Dutch judge did likewise with O’Rourke.

The Hungarian judge gave two rounds to O’Rourke and one to Wojcik, while the Canadian favoured the Pole with a card showing 28-28.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the North Paris Arena

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Jude Gallagher says he will come back "bigger and better" after being knocked out of the Paris Olympics in the last-16 of the 57kg division.

Team Ireland's Gallagher, 22, lost 5-0 on the judges' cards to the Philippines' Carlo Paalam, a flyweight silver medallist in Tokyo who stepped up in weight for the Paris Games.

After a tight first round, in which both fighters landed significant blows, Paalam's second-round performance put him in the driving seat and ultimately left Gallagher with too much to do in the final three minutes.

"It was a close fight. I put in a good performance but I knew that Carlo was no slouch," said Gallagher, who was the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion for Northern Ireland.

"He's an Olympic silver medallist and they don't just hand them out.

"Unfortunately the decision didn't go my way, but sometimes you get those days."

Despite a defeat on his Games debut, Gallagher said he can "absolutely" take pride that he is now an Olympian, something he describes as a "massive achievement".

"I think qualifying for the Olympics is maybe harder than boxing at it," he added.

"I'm an Olympian now and no-one can ever take that away from me."

Gallagher hinted that he likely to continue in the amateur ranks to have a shot at the next Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, where he will be 26.

"It would have been nice to get a medal, but I'm still young and I'll grow and I can come back bigger and better.

"If I keep my head down and stick at it, keep working, keep growing and keep getting better then there will be a much better version of Jude Gallagher in four years' time."

Reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington and European champion Aoife O'Rourke are in action for Ireland later on Wednesday.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne

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The smile that lit up Hannah Scott's face is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

The Coleraine rower looked down at the shiny gold medal around her neck, the enormity of winning one of the most thrilling Olympic finals of all time still to sink in.

"No words. I can't quite believe it, to be honest. I think I'm still in disbelief," said Scott.

"I'm not adding up right now. I was keeping everyone on their toes, that's all I was doing there.

"To come through the line and be standing here with one of these, I actually still can’t take it in.

Over the 2000m course, Scott and her Team GB crew mates Georgie Brayshaw, Lola Anderson and Lauren Henry trailed the Netherlands crew until the final stroke.

Fifteen-hundredths of a second was the difference.

"I know it sounds strange but ten strokes from the line, I know we weren't up, but I was like, we got this," added Scott, who became the first rower from Northern Ireland to win Olympic gold.

"I could just feel the power coming through and I was just like, heads in, go."

After the photo finish, Scott and her team-mates slammed the water in ecstasy.

"I mean, I had to look up because it was quite close, but it was a relief to be honest as well because it's one thing to have the belief, but to actually go out and do it is another thing.

"It just shows, it doesn't matter where you come from, we can do this."

Image source, Getty Images

Hannah Scott has become the latest athlete from Northern Ireland to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics after a stunning women's quadruple sculls final.

In an incredible photo finish, Team GB beat the Netherlands to gold by just 0.15 seconds after a late charge from Scott, Lola Anderson, Lauren Henry and Georgie Brayshaw.

Coleraine rower Scott becomes the third athlete from Northern Ireland to win a gold medal in Paris in less than 24 hours after the success of swimmers Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan on Tuesday.

"It's been a long time in the making and I can't quite believe it," said Scott, 25.

You can read more here.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Hannah Scott helped Team GB take victory in a thrilling women's quadruple sculls final, becoming the third athlete from Northern Ireland to win a gold medal in the space of 24 hours at the Paris Olympics.

Great Britain pipped the Netherlands to gold by just 0.15 seconds after trailing the Dutch crew for the entirety of the race until the final metre.

It looked like the Dutch had taken victory with 250 metres remaining but Scott, along with team-mates Lauren Henry, Lola Anderson and Georgie Brayshaw, snatched victory in a dramatic photo finish.

The crew was in disbelief as they realised what they had achieved, with Coleraine rower Scott wiping tears away from her eyes after adding Olympic gold to her world title.

Scott joins swimmers Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan as gold medallists from Northern Ireland in Paris after their success in the pool on Tuesday.

Stunning finish 'a long time in the making'

"It's been a long time in the making and I can't quite believe it," said Scott, 25.

"I don't even know if I'm emotional yet, that will come. We were so process-driven today and the immensity hasn't struck me because I've been trying to play it really cool."

It was the most unlikely of victories for Team GB, who only led for the first time inside the final metre of the race.

Scott, Brayshaw, Anderson and Henry settled into the race in fourth place as the Netherlands and Ukraine looked to break away from the rest of the field.

The Dutch crew continued to lead as GB moved into second place at the halfway mark, as the battle for gold swiftly unfolded into a two-boat race.

Then, in a dramatic conclusion, a well-timed kick from GB in the final 100 metres pushed them past the Dutch on the line.

"We knew we had it, the confidence," added Scott.

"We've done so many hard miles in training. For anyone out there, just go for it because if you think you can you might just one day and that's the really cool thing about the Olympics."

Surpassing heroes from 2012

Scott was at Bann Rowing Club when the Chambers brothers, Richard and Peter, and Alan Campbell all brought their Olympic medals to Coleraine after the 2012 Games in London.

That was the moment that inspired her to commit to trying to win Olympic gold, and in Paris she not only matches her heroes but surpassed them with her historic gold – a first in rowing for GB at the Games.

Prior to the Paris Games, only three athletes from Northern Ireland had ever won Olympic gold medals.

However, Wiffen’s stunning and historic gold medal for Ireland in the 800 metre freestyle was swiftly followed up by McMillan, who had helped Team GB to 4x200m freestyle relay gold.

Scott’s success now means that golden honours list has doubled in less than 24 hours.

There could be more to come on Thursday at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, as Scott’s GB team-mate Rebecca Shorten races in the women’s four, and Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch compete in the men’s double sculls.

Image source, Inpho

Mona McSharry's quest for a second Olympic medal continues after she qualified for Wednesday night's 200m breaststroke semi-final.

The Team Ireland swimmer, who clinched 100m breaststroke bronze on Monday, clocked 2:23.98 to finish third in her heat.

McSharry finished behind defending champion Tatjana Smith and Kaylene Corbett, both of South Africa.

The semi-final will take place at 21:03 BST on Wednesday.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Image source, Inpho

Team Ireland's Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney have qualified for the men's pair final at the Paris Olympics after taking a superb third place in their semi-final.

The Fermanagh rowers went out hard from the start and led after the opening 500 metres as they looked to build a buffer.

European champions Romania and Team GB made their way past the Fermanagh duo at the halfway point of the race.

Knowing third would be enough to put them into a first Olympic final, Corrigan and Timoney dug deep to respond and they held off New Zealand to take the last place for the final.

Their time of 6:32.22 was faster than their effort in the heats, and they crossed the line 0.5 seconds ahead of New Zealand, who had beaten Ireland into second place in Sunday's opener.

The men's pair final takes place on Friday morning at 10:42 BST.

However, there was disappointment for Rebecca Edwards, who failed to progress to the Olympic final in the women's pair after finishing fifth in their semi-final.

After coming through the repechage on Tuesday, Team GB's Edwards and Chloe Brew ran sixth in the early stages and a late charge was not enough to break into the top three.

Later at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, Hannah Scott could become the third athlete from Northern Ireland to win a gold medal in less than 24 hours.

Scott will race in the women's quadruple sculls for Team GB with Georgina Brayshaw, Lola Anderson and Lauren Henry at 11:38 BST.

The crew are reigning world champions and were fastest in the heats.

Scott is from the same Bann Rowing Club in Coleraine as 2012 medallists Alan Campbell and brothers Peter and Richard Chambers and is aiming to reach the top step in Paris.

Ireland's Abigail Lyle says competing in Paris "exceeded every expectation" that she had as she made her Olympic debut in the dressage on Tuesday.

Riding on Giraldo, who she affectionately calls 'Artie', Lyle finished sixth in her group with a score of 69.441 in the individual dressage competition held at the the stunning Palace of Versailles.

The 39-year-old from Bangor only started competing in dressage events in her mid-20s but described her first taste of Olympic competition as "incredible".

"That was the best ride I have ever had in my entire life. It was incredible," Lyle told BBC Sport.

"It went very quickly! I can’t believe it’s done but it was unbelievable. You imagine the venue will be amazing and it’s even better.

"As soon as you walk in here you are completely blown away. I’m glad we got a few days to settle in. By the time I had to go in there, I was like 'this what we’re here for' but it definitely exceeded expectations."

Lyle, who is based in Malmesbury in England, has competed for Ireland in world and European competitions over the last two years.

"I’m pinching myself this whole time," Lyle said while holding back tears.

"You do want to let yourself think about how momentous this is because it’s such a long journey and don’t get it twisted, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. The most amazing but the hardest."

Image source, Getty Images

You wait 36 years for a gold medal and two come along in the space of ninety minutes!

Team Ireland's Daniel Wiffen became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal since Great Britain hockey pair Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood in 1988 and then Jack McMillan picked up gold as part of the Team GB 4 x 200m relay team.

Could there be another one on Wednesday?

Well, Hannah Scott will be chasing the top of the podium in the women's quadruple sculls alongside Team GB team-mates Georgina Brayshaw, Lola Anderson and Lauren Henry at 11:38 BST.

The Coleraine rower is one of three reigning world champions from Northern Ireland competing in Paris and is hoping to add Olympic gold to her impressive career medal haul.

Before that, Rebecca Edwards and Chloe Brew will be looking to book a place in the women's pair final for Team GB (09:56 BST) while County Fermanagh pair Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan are pushing to progress into the men's pair final for Team Ireland (09:34 BST).

Gallagher makes Olympic debut

In the boxing ring, all eyes will be on Newtownstewart's Jude Gallagher as he looks to progress into the quarter-finals for Team Ireland. He'll first have to get past Carlo Paalam of the Philippines at 14:36 BST.

Defending champion Kellie Harrington is a step further on in her quest for a second Olympic gold medal. She faces Colombia's Angie Paola Valdes Pana in the quarter-finals (16:54 BST) while Aoife O'Rouke meets Elzbieta Wojcik of Poland in the round of 16 (20:52 BST).

You can keep up to date with all athletes from Northern Ireland at the Paris Olympics here.