Meg Ryan have been confirmed to represent Team Ireland to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Ryan will compete in the Women’s Artistic All-Around Event.
It was a long wait for the Cork native. At the World Championships in April, she finished just outside the automatic qualification as first reserve, and was offered the quota spot once Olympic rankings in gymnastics closed this week.
Ryan is Ireland's 2nd ever female gymnastic representative at the Games, after Eilish O Reilly went to Rio back in 2016.
O'Reilly has since retired from the sport but made history by becoming Ireland's first female to compete in the gymnastics event. It put women’s gymnastics on the map in the eyes of the Irish public and opened the door for future generations - which now includes Meg Ryan.
Ryan recently finished up her Leaving Certificate exams in Douglas, Cork and is now looking forward to heading to Tokyo.
''I'm delighted. It was a long wait for me but it feels amazing to finally get the confirmation. I've worked really hard to I can't wait to get out there now!''
Her coach Emma Hamill, who is a former Gymnastics Ireland Young Coach of the Year, echoes this sentiment of hard work.
"I’ve known and worked with Meg since she was a very young gymnast.''
Her work ethic and dedication are a credit to herself, her club and her country. She is a dedicated, hardworking athlete and is deserving of the honour of calling herself an Olympian."
Meg Ryan of @douglasgymclub is only 2nd Irish female gymnast to qualify 4 Olympics..& just done her Leaving! Not the first female Olympian from her club tho’ as Mairead Kavanagh was selected as judge at Rio 2016 Great shot of Meg?by @ramseycardy here #teamireland #womeninsport pic.twitter.com/mqANJWvWsX
— cliona foley (@ponyyelof) July 2, 2021
The All-Around event involves athletes competing across four events - the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and the floor exercise. Athletes move through qualification rounds into the finals, with a further opportunity for medals in the individual finals also. In gymnastics the athletes are judged based on execution, degree of difficulty and overall presentation skills.
The Women's All-Around Event takes place on Sunday 25th July, followed by the final on Thursday 29th July.
Congratulations Meg and we wish you the very best of luck at the Olympic Games!
