Kearney set to become Ireland's first Olympic women's judo qualifier

Lisa Kearney is set to be confirmed as Ireland's first ever Olympic women's judo competitor, despite being beaten in the European Championships in Russia today.

Kearney, a 23-year-old from Belfast, fell in the opening round of the -48kg category in Chelyabinsk to Romanian judoka Alina Alexandra Dumitru in the final Olympic qualifier.

But defeats to Portuguese Ana Hormigo and Dutch star Birgit Enke mean they can no longer overtake the Belfast native in the Olympic qualifying rankings - meaning the International Judo Federation will list her among the qualifiers next week.

Due to cumulative results over the past two years and the allocation of European places for women's judo in the Olympic Games, Kearney is due to be ratified on Tuesday as an Olympian.

A delighted Lisa said: "Although it is not official yet I am really delighted that I have qualified a place for Ireland at the London 2012 Olympics. It has been a long qualification process and I can’t quite believe it is over.

"I think it will only sink in early next week when I get official confirmation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my coach Ciaran Ward who has coached me for 14 years and I wouldn’t be here without him.

"I would also like to thank my wider support team of the Irish Sports Council, Sport Northern Ireland, Sports Institute Northern Ireland, the Irish Judo Association, the Irish Institute of Sport and also the Olympic Council of Ireland."

In a brief statement, the Olympic Council of Ireland said this afternoon: "Subject to confirmation early next week, Lisa Kearney has qualified for the London 2012 Games.

Following a long and tough qualification process, Lisa & her coach Ciaran Ward have been duly rewarded with an Olympic place this summer."

Lisa regularly trains in Edinburgh with coach Ciaran Ward, having studied at Herriot Watt University, and has been Junior and Senior Irish Champion.

During the European Youth Olympic Festival she won fifth place and claimed a World Cup title, and won Commonwealth titles for both the Junior and Senior level in 2006.

The Irish Judo Association commented: "We would like to extend our best wishes to Lisa’s parents and family who have been an immense support to Lisa over her career.

The Board would like to thank the Irish Sports Council, the Olympic Council of Ireland, Sport NI, The Institute of Sport and Sports Institute Northern Ireland for the continuous support received over the last two years."