Athletics: Emma Davis has become the first Irish athlete to qualify for the Olympic triathlon after she finished 15th at the World Championships in Vancouver on Sunday.
The Vancouver meeting was the last race to count towards the standings for Olympic qualification. Before the race Davis was 47th in the standings, with 55 qualifying spots on offer.
With bonus points on offer for her high finish Davis will have climbed the rankings to secure her place at Beijing in August. The official Olympic qualifying list will be announced by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) on Saturday, June 21st.
Conditions were testing for Sunday's race with air temperatures of 14 degrees, and water temperatures of just 11 degrees. "Cold is the only way to describe it," said the Bangor athlete afterwards.
"My initial feelings were thank god that's over and I can get warm now I was also relieved to get through the race unharmed as with the wet weather I was concerned about crashes. I realised the morning before the race that I was already qualified for Beijing - two girls pulled out of the race at the last minute which meant that I couldn't be overtaken.
"Consequently I was trying to get the best placing I could in the race but without taking too many chances, as making it to the start line and my performance in Beijing is my primary concern for the year.
"I have dreamt of racing in the Olympics since I was seven years old, it has been a major life goal for me. To achieve qualification means everything but it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I don't think I will believe it until I am standing on the start line in August."
Following the gruelling Olympic qualifying campaign, Davis will now take a two week rest and recovery period before resuming training for Beijing.