2023 World Games Daily Roundup: Wednesday 21 June

Bocce 

Following on from their winning streak in both the Teams and Doubles competitions earlier in the week, Caitriona McLaughlin and Sammy Jo Sweeney took to the Bocce court to compete in the Ladies Singles this afternoon and put in a hard graft ahead of their finals tomorrow morning, with Team Ireland fully invested in every throw! 

Equestrian 

On day five of the equestrian competition, Declan Foley gave Irish spectators something to cheer about as the sole representative for Team Ireland. He took to the arena in front of family and friends including his mother Kathleen, brother Chris, and grandad Patrick, who watched on with pride and nerves. Declan showcased his skill, determination, and unwavering focus in the arena.  

Undeterred by the pressure, Declan exemplified the essence of sportsmanship as he navigated the course with his horse Claire.  

Declan is back in the saddle alongside fellow riders Noel Coen and Gemma Haire on Thursday 22 June. 

Football

In a sensational display of skill and determination, Team Ireland's men's division 1 football team triumphed in two back-to-back matches, cementing their place in the World Games final.



Their first game against Poland showcased their dominance as they emerged victorious with an impressive 6-0 win. Undeterred by the challenge, the team faced Morocco next, coming from a goal down to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 victory.



The electrifying atmosphere, coupled with overwhelming support from the crowd, further fuelled their remarkable performance. With this historic achievement, a Team Ireland men's football team has reached the final for the first time in their history, promising an exhilarating showdown on Saturday.

Gymnastics 

The Rhythmic Gymnastics awards ceremony took place under the afternoon sunshine in the Messe Berlin Summer Garden, where Jennifer O’Halloran took to the podium on four occasions to pick up her ribbons for 6th place in Rope, 4th place in Ribbon and Hoop, and a bronze medal for Clubs, as her family cheered on loud and proud. 

Swimming

The Irish swimming coaching team of Brian, Frances and Terry should be commended as all Irish athletes reached peak condition at the business end of the week in Berlin.



Today we saw Patricia Larkin give a swimming exhibition in both the 50m backstroke semi-final and also the 50m freestyle semi-final. She qualified for both finals, to take place later this week.



Similarly, Jack Egan was outstanding in the 50m freestyle semifinal and will also compete for a medal later this week.



The most impressive performance of all, however, was the team 4 x 25m event. The relay team of Trisha, Jack, Eoin and Ellie were outstanding in the semi-final. On the back of this performance they were regraded into the top group, which made for a challenging final later in the afternoon. We're so proud of all our Team Ireland swimmers!