Irish Olympic Team Selected

Star sailors Peter O’LEARY and Stephen MILNE have been recommended to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) completing the Irish sailing team for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Ireland has secured places in four of the 11 Olympic sailing events (Star, Finn, Men’s 470 and Laser Radial) and the selection of the Star crew completes their provision line up. The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) had already nominated Ciara PEELO (Laser Radial), Timothy GOODBODY (Finn) and Ger OWENS and Phil LAWTON (Men’s 470) to the OCI.

On 1 May the ISA board unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) to nominate Peter O’LEARY and Stephen MILNE following their exceptional campaign.

The OSG met on 30 April to select a crew for the Star class following the recent successful Star World Championship in Miami, USA at which Ireland secured a nation place at the 2008 Beijing Games. Along with O’LEARY and MILNE, the other crews in contention were Max TREACY and Anthony SHANKS and IRLMO1 and Ben COOKE.

Colm BARRINGTON, Chairman of the OSG, commented, “The three crews in contention for the place demonstrated enormous skill and great determination in their campaigns. While it is very disappointing for the two crews who miss out, the OSG unanimously selected O’LEARY and MILNE. They have demonstrated that they have the best chance of success in the Olympic regatta in 2008”.

James O’Callaghan, ISA Performance Director, stated, “Obviously we were delighted with the performances of all three crews throughout the campaign. They all knew the selection process in advance and the competition between them drove them all to strong performances.” 

Ireland Olympic Team

ISAF Olympic Games microsite – www.sailing.org/olympics