Trinity’s Canoeing Sports Scholar Selected for Inaugural European Games
Posted on: 11 June 2015
It has been a busy few weeks for Trinity Sports Scholarship student Tom Brennan. Not only did he recently complete his Medicine degree, he has also been selected to represent Ireland in the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, 12 – 28 June 2015. Tom’s ability to balance study commitments, alongside the intensity of training and competition schedules, is a truly remarkable achievement, and he will join up to 6,000 athletes, from over 50 countries, competing in 20 sports, in the first ever multi-sport Games at European level.
Tom took up canoeing in 6th class at his local Salmon Leap Club in Co. Kildare and has developed in to one of Ireland’s top paddlers. He is the current National Champion and record holder in the K1 200m and has represented his country at numerous U23 World and European events. Speaking before his departure to Baku, Tom commented: “This is without doubt the most significant representation honour in my career to date. The inaugural European Games will be a sporting spectacle and to be representing my country alongside internationally renowned sportspeople like Katie Taylor (Boxing) and Aileen Reid (Triathlon) is a very proud moment indeed. I am looking forward to experiencing the multi-sport environment and performing well at a major sporting occasion.”
Tom will attend the Opening Ceremony for the Games on Friday 12th June with the rest of the Irish delegation, before heading to the Canoe Sprint venue at Mingachevir, some three hours away from Baku. He will compete in the K1 200m heats on Monday 15th June with the semi finals taking place later that afternoon and the finals scheduled for Tuesday 16th June. Tom is hoping to place in the Top 14 of the competition. He will then return to the Athletes Village in Baku to savour the Games experience and to support some of his fellow competitors in their events.
Team Ireland athletes can be followed via this link.
An App is also available here.
