Olympics: Rhys McClenaghan and Meg Ryan to represent Ireland in gymnastics

Rhys McClenaghan and Meg Ryan have been confirmed as Ireland’s artistic gymnastics team to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

McClenaghan, from Co Down will take part in the Men’s Pommel Horse and Cork native in the Women’s All-Around which takes place in the Ariake Gymnastics Centre from Saturday 24 July until Tuesday 3 August.

Both gymnasts will be competing in the Olympic Games for the first time, although they have both previously competed in European Youth Olympic Festivals. World Bronze Medallist and European Gold Medallist McClenaghan qualified for Tokyo 2020 based on his World Championship performance in October 2019 when he finished third, setting himself up as one of the favourites heading into this year's Games. In Tokyo McClenaghan will compete in the qualification rounds on the July 24th, before his main focus, the Men's Pommel Horse Final on Sunday August 1st.

For Ryan the wait was a little longer, at the World Championships she finished just outside the automatic qualification, as first reserve, and was offered the quota spot once Olympic rankings in gymnastics closed this week. The All-Around for women 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.