BBC NI at the Olympics

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.

Image source, Getty

Jack McMillan, from Northern Ireland, will receive an Olympic gold medal after Great Britain retained their Olympic 4x200m freestyle relay title.

Although the 24-year-old did not take part in the final, both he and Englishman Kieran Bird earned medals through their participation in the morning heats.

The same quartet that won gold in Tokyo three years ago - Matt Richards, James Guy, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott - were reunited for the final in the La Defense Arena.

They had a slender lead going into the final leg but Scott, who was a cruel fourth in the individual event 24 hours earlier, brought the team home to win by a relatively comfortable 1.35 seconds.

McMillan's gold came less than two hours after Daniel Wiffen, also from Northern Ireland, won the men's 800m freestyle final.

Prior to Tuesday, no athlete from Northern Ireland had won a gold medal since 1988.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at La Defense Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Wiffen has become the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold medal in 36 years in a thrilling 800m freestyle final in Paris.

The Team Ireland swimmer edged the USA's Bobby Finke to take gold after a stunning burst of pace over the final 50 metres.

The 23-year-old also set an Olympic record with his blistering finish as he recorded a time of 7:38.19.

The pockets of support for Wiffen erupted around the La Defense Arena as he secured a first gold medal of the Games for Ireland.

"I was writing 'I'm going into the history books', and that's exactly what I've done," he told BBC Sport.

"It was definitely the way I wanted to execute it, it wasn't the time that I wanted, but Olympic finals aren't about getting times, it's about getting your hand on the wall first."

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland’s men face a must win game against Argentina on Thursday if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Olympic hockey quarter-finals.

A third straight defeat, 2-0, to India, coupled with Argentina’s 2-0 win over New Zealand has left Ireland and New Zealand with no points after three games and lying outside of the four qualifying places in Pool B.

Two first half goals from Harmanpreet Singh, who converted an early penalty stroke after a foul by Shane O’Donoghue and then a late penalty corner, were enough in a game that Ireland contributed much to but couldn’t score.

Meanwhile Team GB, captained by Cookstown’s David Ames, held the world number one side, Netherlands, to a 2-2 draw.

GB are third in Pool A with five points from three games, two behind the Dutch and a win against bottom side France on Thursday would secure a place in the knockout stages.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland will face Great Britain in the 7th/8th place play-off of the Olympic rugby sevens after a 19-7 defeat to France.

A 40-7 reverse to Australia on Monday evening had dropped Allan Temple-Jones' side out of medal contention and defeat to the host nation was their fourth in five games in Paris.

Back at the Stade de France, Ireland had taken a 7-0 lead through Eve Higgins' first-half score but Seraphine Okemba crossed twice in the second half, with Carla Neisen also going over, to give France victory.

The meeting with Great Britain, which is Ireland's last outing of their first Games, will be held at 17:00 BST on Tuesday.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the Paris Olympics

Image source, Inpho

Whisper it quietly, but there could be a first gold medallist from Northern Ireland in 36 years on day four at the Games.

World champion Daniel Wiffen will race in the 800m freestyle final at 20:00 BST and is one of the favourites for gold after setting the fastest time in the heats.

The last gold medallists from Northern Ireland came when Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood triumphed with GB's hockey team in 1988.

Lady Mary Peters was the last individual athlete to win gold in the pentathlon way back in 1972.

The 23-year-old won world 800m and 1500m freestyle gold in February and stated before the Games that he would not be leaving Paris without a medal.

"If I didn't come away with a medal I would be very disappointed," Wiffen told BBC Sport NI in the build-up to the Games.

"Going in with the times that I've produced, with my PBs (personal bests), they would just put me on the podium if I can replicate them.

"I've done it time and time again so we'll just keep doing what we are doing."

There has already been success in the pool for another swimmer from Northern Ireland with Jack McMillan helping Team GB qualify for the 4x200m relay final on Tuesday evening (21:15 BST).

The 24-year-old produced a strong leg with a time of 1:45.68 but is set to miss out on a place in the final line-up with Matt Richards and Duncan Scott poised to return to GB's team.

In rowing, Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch qualified for the men's double sculls final, which will take place on Thursday (10:30 BST).

Ireland take on India in the men's hockey (12:15 BST), while Team GB, captained by NI's David Ames, drew 2-2 with Netherlands.

In equestrian, County Down's Abigail Lyle competes in the individual dressage.

After defeat in Monday's quarter-final with Australia in the rugby sevens, Ireland will be in the 5th-8th play-off bracket along with France, China and Team GB which begins at 14:00 BST.

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

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at La Defense Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Jack McMillan has helped Great Britain qualify in first place for the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final at the Paris Olympics.

McMillan, from Northern Ireland, set off second after James Guy had established an early lead in the second heat.

The 24-year-old produced a strong leg with a time of 1:45.68 to maintain GB's advantage, before Kieran Bird and Tom Dean completed the heat in a time of 7:05.11.

McMillan and Bird are set to drop out of the team for the final, with Matt Richards and Duncan Scott poised to return to GB's line-up for the final.

However, they would still be classed as medallists if GB go on to finish in the top three at 21:15 BST.

Also in the pool on Tuesday night, Daniel Wiffen will look to become the first Olympic gold medallist from Northern Ireland in 36 years when he competes for Ireland in the men's 800m freestyle final at 20:05 BST.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Philip Doyle became the third rower from Northern Ireland to reach an Olympic final in Paris, joining Hannah Scott and Rebecca Shorten.

The Banbridge man, along with partner Daire Lynch, stormed to victory for Team Ireland in the semi-finals of the men’s double sculls.

The in-form duo were bronze medallist’s at last year's World Championships in Belgrade and should be in the medal mix in Thursday's final (10:30 BST).

They seized the lead from Germany with around 650m remaining and held off the strong challenge from the USA and New Zealand who claimed the other two places in the final.

“It's just nice to get it done, to be honest,” said Doyle.

"You always kind of forget between the heat and the semi, you know, there's three days between the two, so you just have to remind yourself that you're fast, you can get it done and [we're] delighted with that result, like really delighted.

Looking ahead to the final, Doyle added: “We always knew we were a boat that was able to step onto a podium, I think that's from our first ever competition together.

"I think now we just need to try and focus on executing our best race, and seeing how it goes on Thursday, and hopefully it'll be nice."

Team Ireland women's double sculls pair Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin and the women's four quartet of Imogen Magner, Eimear Lambe, Emily Hegarty and Natalie Long missed out on reaching their respective finals.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland's hopes of a rugby sevens medal at the Paris Olympics are over after a 40-7 defeat to Australia in the quarter-finals.

Allan Temple-Jones' side had been beaten just 19-14 by the same opposition in a pool stage game earlier in the day, but were undone come the knock-outs by a brilliant Maddison Levi.

The 22-year-old scored her side's first three tries of the evening, taking her personal tally at these Olympics to 11, with Faith Nathan, Isabella Nasser and Bienne Terita also crossing for the victors.

Ireland, whose consolation score came through Stacey Flood, will now go into the 5th-8th place play-off bracket that begins at 2pm BST on Tuesday.