Paris Olympics: Could this be Northern Ireland’s greatest ever Games?

Of the 37 athletes in Paris, six are representing Team GB with the other 31 competing for Team Ireland across 12 sports, and many have already won medals at Commonwealth, European and World level.

For the first time, Northern Ireland has three current world champions competing at an Olympics.

The most decorated is Newtownards gymnast Rhys McClenaghan. Representing Team Ireland at the Games, he is a two-time world champion on the pommel horse, a three-time European champion and a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner (for Northern Ireland).

An Olympic title would complete the gymnastics ‘Grand Slam’.

Daniel Wiffen from Magheralin became the first Team Ireland swimmer to claim global titles when he won the 800m and 1500m freestyle at this year’s World Championships. That’s to go along side a litany of national records, a European record and a world record in the short course 800m freestyle.

Coleraine rower Hannah Scott was pivotal in helping Great Britain win the women’s quad sculls at last year’s World Rowing Championships in Belgrade.

The quartet added the European title this year and go into Paris as favourites.

In fact, rowing could be the epicentre of Northern Ireland success.

Scott’s team-mate Rebecca Shorten is a former world champion in the women’s four and will compete alongside Team GB’s two-time Olympic winner Helen Glover.

They are unbeaten with a European title in the back pocket and favourites to win gold in Paris.

Rebecca Edwards was fourth in the women’s eight in Belgrade but earlier last season had won a World Cup gold. Now in the women’s pair, the Aughnacloy rower should not not be dismissed.

For Team Ireland, Philip Doyle from Banbridge and County Fermanagh duo Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan won world championship medals last year so are ones to watch.