Sailing:Annalise Murphy has become the latest Irish athlete and the first sailor to qualify for the London Olympics next summer after a strong showing in the Laser Radial class at the ISAF World Sailing Championships in Perth.
The 21-year-old sailor from the National Yacht club in Dun Laoghaire currently lies second in her class at the event after recording her second race win, with the 102 boat fleet now split 50-50 into gold and silver fleets.
The split means it is now impossible for Murphy to fall outside the top 29 nations, thus securing Ireland's place on the start line in London. Her event continues in Perth until the medal race next Sunday.
Murphy recently took home the bronze medal at the ISAF World Cup in Weymouth, the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympics and secured a remarkable 10 race wins from 22 starts at the Dutch and the British World Cup events.
Congratulating Murphy on her achievement, ISA performance director James O’Callaghan said: “It is fantastic for Annalise to have achieved qualification so early in the regatta.”