Annalise Murphy has won her national nomination trials for this Summer’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games, following the conclusion of the Laser Radial World Championships in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Pending ratification by the board of the Irish Sailing Association, the London 2012 veteran representing the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire will be nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland for inclusion in the Irish team for Rio 2016.
Having previously qualified Ireland for the Women’s Single-handed event at Rio 2016, Murphy’s sole challenger for the place was Aoife Hopkins from Howth YC who is an ISA Academy sailor. While Murphy finished ahead of Hopkins in each of the three regattas in the trials, Mexico saw the margin tighten to just four places in that event.
However, the overall selection trials score was comfortably in Murphy’s favour.
“Congratulations to Annalise for winning the trials that confirm her as the best Laser Radial sailor in Ireland,” said James O’Callaghan, ISA Performance Director. “Aoife also sailed a great contest and she is clearly a prospect for 2020.”
Attention now switches to preparation for the Rio venue that will be very different for Murphy in contrast to the more familiar and breezy waters of Weymouth used in London 2012. The world championships saw the past European Champion finish third in the Silver fleet with work needed to regain her more usual top ten results from other pre-Olympic regattas.
The conclusion of the Laser Radial trials means three of the four Irish qualified sailing disciplines for Rio have now been decided.
Well I have officially been selected for my 2nd Olympics! I've been working towards Rio for the last 4 years. Hope I can do Ireland proud!
— Annalise Murphy (@Annalise_Murphy) April 21, 2016
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