THE updated and revised qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics have been released by World Athletics.
World Athletics yesterday announced amendments to its qualification process for the Olympics, postponed from this year into 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are two ways an athlete can qualify for the Games: through entry standards and via the world rankings.
The governing body has confirmed that athletes who have already qualified for the Olympics are assured of their sports. That means that Finn Valley AC race walker Brendan Boyce is assured of a place in Tokyo.
Boyce – who previously competed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2016 version in Rio – became Boyce became the first Irish athlete to qualify in May 2019. A person best of 3:48.13 at the European Race Walking Championships in Lithuania saw Boyce book his ticket.
Mark English, the 800m runner who realigned to Finn Valley just before the Covid-19 lockdown, is affected by the amended process.
There remains a suspended qualification period for all events from April 5th until November 30th 2020.
The qualification period for English and other athletics hopefuls will run from December 1 2020 until June 29 2021.
Raphoe badminton duo Chloe and Sam Magee are awaiting the Badminton World Federation to announce their new measures while Marlin’s swimmer Mona McSharry will be keeping a keen eye on FINA’s procedures for their qualification processes.
