Five Athletes Flying the Flag for TU Dublin at the 2024 Olympics

Published: 22 Jul, 2024

Five TU Dublin students will represent Ireland at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Competing across various events, including swimming, sailing, hockey and Rugby 7s, the athletes will begin their Olympic journey by sailing down the Seine on Friday, 26 July, as part of the Games Opening Ceremony.

However, before that, on 24 July, Andrew Smith will take to the field as part of the Rugby 7s. He was part of the team that secured Ireland's place in Paris by winning the inaugural European Games title in Poland last June. The game is to start at 16.30. 

On 27 July, Ben Johnson, a graduate of the BEng in Sustainable Energy, will play Men's Hockey. Since Ben started playing for Ireland, he has been the top scorer.

 

Sean Waddilove takes to the seas competing in the Men's Sailing on Sunday, 28 July, at 2.45 pm. Sean and his teammate came in 13^th place at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2024, Sean aims to reach the final day in Marseille, as they missed a medal by just three places in 2021.

Rachel Darragh will also take to the Badminton court on 28 July. Last October, she made the quarter-finals of the Abu Dhabi Masters, which helped her clinch her spot at the Olympics.

A former RTÉ Sport Awards Sportsperson of the Year (2019) winner, Nicole Turner, will represent Ireland in the Paralympics. She came home from Portugal last month with four medals at the World Para Swimming European Championships in Portugal and will be hoping for a podium place at the Paralympics. 

Speaking about our Olympians, Interim President John Doran said:

I would like to wish all our TU Dublin students, and past students, the very best at the Olympics and Paralympics over the next few weeks. You’ve already done us proud by making it to Paris with Team Ireland and we’ll all be tuning in to watch you compete. Good luck from everyone at TU Dublin!’’

Niamh O' Callaghan, Sports Pathways & Performance Manager said:

We are sending our best wishes to our incredible athletes competing in the Paris 20024 Olympics and Paralympic Games. As you step on to the world stage, know that the entire university community is cheering you on every step of the way. Go out there, go for it, give it your all!

These athletes have displayed resilience and determination, qualities that have been nurtured through the comprehensive support system at TU Dublin. The Elite Athlete support programme is designed to foster athletic excellence while ensuring that students achieve academic success. The program provides various benefits, including financial aid, access to top-tier training facilities, academic flexibility, and personalised support from dedicated staff. Please find out more about our Elite Sports programme here.

Follow our social media channels on Instagram and TikTok for some 'Behind the Scenes' footage of our athletes as they prepare for the world's best sporting event!