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World of Sport

18th Apr 2016

Irish gymnast Ellis O’Reilly has created history by qualifying for Rio Olympics

Fantastic news

Ben Kiely

Rio 2016 will mark the first Olympic games to feature a female Irish gymnast.

Ellis O’Reilly created history in the wee hours of Monday morning by becoming the first Irish female gymnast to qualify for an Olympic Games.

The 18-year-old secured a spot at Rio 2016 through her performance at the Aquecce Rio test event, the final qualifying event for the Games which took place at the HSBC Barra Olympic Arena.

London-born O’Reilly trains out of the Europa Gymnastics club in London and is coached by Sam James.

She joins fellow Team Ireland gymnast Kieran Behan who qualified on Saturday for Rio 2016.