Olympic teams head for training camps

The Olympic water sports teams were confident they would make a splash as they headed off for warmer waters today.

Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, jetted off from Dublin Airport for the training camp with around 20 competitors, including members of the rowing and sailing teams.

Mr Hickey said: “The big hopes are in Sam Lynch one of the rowers and some of the swimming team.

“But I think the equestrian team could prove to be the dark horse. They have won every competition they could except the Olympics.

“So, with a bit of luck they’ll do well this time round. A win would be a huge thing for this country.”

Ger Owens and Ross Killian, who are competing as a team in the week-long 470 double-handed Olympic sailing class in Glyfada, near Athens, said they had been working towards this full-time for the past four years.

Mr Killian, 27, said: “The temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees but with the wind it is cooler on the water, so it is not so much of a problem.

“We have been out there for the past month training and we only got back three days ago for a short break. The warm weather was a nice change after training in Germany.

“The competition is starting to heat up now and it will reach fever pitch by the time it starts. We have reached our highest point on the world rankings at about 18th place, so we are peaking at the right time. We got 11th place in our last event, so we feel pretty confident.”

The 49th Irish Olympic competitors are spread across many different training camps including Seville in Spain, France and Croatia. The last group of athletes will be travelling out next week.

The competitors, including World Championship medallist runner Sonia O’Sullivan and walker Gillian O’Sullivan, will travel to Athens for the opening ceremony between August 10 to 13.