Olympics Day 16: Your guide to the final day of action for Irish athletes in Paris

Team Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack will make history by becoming the first Irish woman to compete at five Olympic Games this morning when she takes to the streets of Paris for the Women’s Marathon.

The event, which will for the first time conclude the Olympics athletics programme, will take in some of the famous Parisian landmarks, including the Chateau de Versailles, the Grand Palais and the Hotel de Ville. 

Traditionally the Men’s Marathon was always the final culminating event on the Athletics programme at the Olympic Games, but this time the organisers have decided to reverse that order and showcase the Women’s race. 

It is seen as a hugely symbolic move, especially with the Marathon, as for many years women struggled to be able to take part and get people to accept they could run such races.

Wicklow’s McCormack, who is a mother of three, has been training at altitude in recent weeks in Font-Romeu, opting to skip the recent European Athletics Championships to focus on her preparations for the Olympic Games.

Coached by her husband Alan, the 39-year-old has run the marathon at the last two Games in Rio and Tokyo, finishing inside the top 25 on both occasions. In her first Games in Beijing 2008 she raced the Steeplechase, and the 5,000m and 10,000m in London at the 2012 Games.

McCormack of Kilcoole AC has yet to run a marathon this year but qualified by running 2:26:19 in Valencia in December, a mere six months after having her third child. Her personal best stands at 2:23:58, from December 2021.

Four athletes in the race have broken 2:17 this year; Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, and the Ethiopian trio of Tigst Assefa, Megertu Alemu and Amane Beriso Shankule. Assefa is the world record holder with a best time of 2:11:53 to her name.

Track Cycling 

Lara Gillespie is the last of Team Ireland’s competitors in action on the final day of the Paris Olympic Games today, competing in the women’s Omnium; the testing multi-race event which is track cycling’s equivalent of athletics’ heptathlon but with only four elements.

The 23-year-old from Enniskerry was European U23 champion in Omnium and Points last year. She is a super versatile young rider who won world junior bronze in individual pursuit in 2019 and was also a European Junior champion in the points race in 2018 but this is a huge step up for a cyclist of her age and experience.

The Omnium is a huge test of endurance and features a lot of older riders with far more experience and Gillespie already has two team events in her legs in Paris; finishing ninth in Team Pursuit and 11th in the Madison.

The field includes the defending champion and two-time world champion; Jennifer Valente (USA), Japan’s former world champion Yumi Kajihara, and Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky who crashed out in this event in Tokyo and looks intent on redemption.

There are four different elements to the Omnium. It starts with a ‘Scratch’ race over 7.5km, than a ‘Tempo’ race (with a series of intermediate sprints), and an ‘Elimination Race’ (where the last rider is eliminated each time they cross the finish line). 

Riders accumulate points for finishing positions in the first three legs which is then added to their score in the final ‘Points Race’ of 25km (100 laps); usually the decisive race in the series.

SCHEDULE - Sunday, August 11

(All times listed are Irish times)

7.00am Athletics, Women’s Marathon, Fionnuala McCormack

10.00am Track Cycling, Women’s Omnium, Scratch race, Lara Gillespie

10.57am Track Cycling, Women’s Omnium, Tempo Race, Lara Gillespie

11.53am Track Cycling, Women’s Omnium, Elimination Race, Lara Gillespie

12.56pm Track Cycling, Women’s Omnium, Points Race, Lara Gillespie

8.00pm Closing Ceremony, Stade de France

Where to watch?

RTÉ 2 will provide coverage throughout the day, with a live stream available on RTÉ Player also.