The 7-man Irish Elite squad arrived home from the European Olympic qualifiers via Dublin Airport today.
Irish squad and management
(Pictues, courtesy of Michael Hade (IABA), below).
The seven-man Irish Elite squad arrived home for the AIBA European Olympic qualifiers in Trabzon, Turkey via Dublin Airport today.
Wexford welterweight Adam Nolan and Belfast light-flyweight Paddy Barnes qualified for the 2012 Games in the north-eastern Turkish city, with Nolan going all the way in Trabzon and winning gold in the 69kg class.
Barnes and Tommy McCarthy took home a bronze medal each from the 43-nation tournament.
Nolan admitted today that he was stunned with the reception he received at Dublin Airport this afternoon and thanked everyone for turning out.
Nolan V Wojcicki
http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000082/C73B182.PDF
Nolan’s qualification means that Ireland will have two southpaws on the squad for the 30th Olympiad, as Darren O’Neill, who qualified for London 2012 at the 2011 AIBA World Championships in Baku, is also a leftie.
John Joe Nevin and Michael Conlan also qualified for the XXX Olympiad in Baku, Nevin claiming bronze in the Azeri capital.
The Trabzon tournament was the final Olympic qualifier for European (male) boxers.
Ireland’s women’s team will be targeting three Olympics places at the AIBA World Women’s Championships in China next month.
The three Olympic weight categories for women are: flyweight, lightweight and middleweight.
Nolan’s Bray BC team-mate Katie Taylor will be aiming for her fourth World lightweight title in-a–row in China.
Irish 2012 Olympic (male) team
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG)
52kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco)
56kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray BC)
75kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
IOC President Pat Hickey (right) with Paddy Barnes and coach Gerry Storey
Something tells us that this is a Wexford flag that Adam Nolan is holding over his head this afternoon
Bray BC coach Pete Taylor with Adam Nolan
Adam Nolan and family at Dublin Airport today
