Paris 2024: Why Rory McIlroy has decided to represent Ireland ...

Published 01/08/2024 at 11:31 GMT

Rory McIlroy is aiming for gold in golf which started today, but why is he representing Ireland when he is from Northern Ireland?

Northern Irish athletes can decide whether they want to compete for Team GB or Ireland at the Olympics, with Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom.

Ireland was partitioned in 1921, with the UK Government dividing Ireland into North and Southern Ireland.

Much has been made of the words "Northern Ireland" not featuring in the team name of Team GB.

McIlroy was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, but chose to represent Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and made the same decision here at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

McIlroy finished in 16th place in Tokyo, with Xander Schauffele taking home the gold medal.

Four-time major winner McIlroy will be competing alongside Shane Lowry for Ireland. Lowry finished in sixth place at The Open recently, whilst McIlroy failed to make the cut.

Wiffen is in a similar position to McIlroy, as he is also from Northern Ireland and decided to represent Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Northern Irish gymnast, Rhys McClenaghan will also be representing Ireland, as he aims for gold in the final of the pommel horse on Saturday.

It is purely a personal choice for athletes, with Northern Ireland's Hannah Scott representing Team GB in the women’s quad skulls yesterday. By winning, Scott became Northern Ireland’s first female gold medallist since Lady Mary Peters in 1972.

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“As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision," said McIlroy.

"The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that’s Ireland.”

Before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, much was made of who McIlroy should represent which ultimately led to him deciding not to compete at all.

“I guess I was, at the start whenever I was thinking of playing at the Olympics, I think I let other people’s opinions of me weigh on that decision,” said Mcilroy told the Olympics website in 2019.

“At the end of the day, it’s my decision. I can’t please everyone. The only people who really care about who I play for, who I represent, don’t mean anything to me,” the 35-year-old added.

McIlroy, who has not won a major in 10 years, has been having a difficult time of late. The 35-year-old recently squandered the chance to win the US Open, falling on the last few holes to hand Bryson DeChambeau victory.

McIlroy is eager for success: “For me it’s well documented I haven’t won one of the big four in 10 years, so it [a gold medal in Paris] would be one of, if not the biggest, achievements of my career in the last 10 years,” said the four-time major winner.

discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.