Irish fencer qualifies for Beijing Olympics
Irish fencer Siobhan Byrne has qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning the silver medal at the European qualifying tournament in Istanbul this evening.
Byrne now becomes the first Irish fencer to reach an Olympic Games since Michael O’Brien in 1992. Only the two finalists at this tournament would qualify for Beijing and Byrne booked her place by beating the tournament’s number one seed Andreea Pelei of Romania 15-14 in a thrilling semi-final.
Byrne, who competes in the Sabre weapon category, and is supported by the Irish Sports Council, was one of nine fencers from around Europe competing for only two qualifying spots in Istanbul.
She faced Spaniard Araceli Navarro in the final of the tournament, but missed out on gold by a mere one hit; 14-15.
“I am so, so thrilled to qualify for the Olympics - I just can’t believe it,” she said.
“I felt good coming into this tournament. I knew what I had to do to realise my goal and I stayed focused and positive throughout
“I felt like it was my time, and it is. This is my turn.
“I am so grateful to my coach, and manager, Ohio State, my college and the Sports Council for backing me for years, and I’m just so pleased for my family.”
Siobhan Byrne is in her final year of a sports scholarship at Ohio State University, studying health management.
Byrne was born in Germany where her family is based and her father is from Co Meath.
Byrne was unlucky not to qualify for Athens at this event in 2004 - she was fourth by a mere two hits missing out on qualification by the very narrowest of margins.
