Claire Lambe – Rowing

Age: 26. Event: Lightweight double sculls. Hometown: Dublin

So much about success in rowing depends on finding the correct synergy within the boat, and Lambe offers perfect proof of that, struggling to find the breakthrough, just missing out on London 2012, before partnering with Sinead Jennings. Irish champion at lightweight singles in 2014, it was only last summer she first partnered with Jennings, and the results were near instant, and they qualified for Rio at the World Championships in France. A mechanical engineering graduate from UCD, Lamb had also taken a year out to train for London. With their experience, potential finalists in Rio.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics