How many athletes from Ireland participated in the last Olympic games?

Answer 1

Ireland competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens under the IOC country code IRL. It was the 18th appearance of the European nation, which made its debut in 1924. Ireland's Olympic campaign for the 2004 Games was dogged with controversy from the start, with the disqualification of Cathal Lombard for failing a drug test for the drug EPO. However, 106 individual athletes and 12 teams attended the games, covering all fields, notably equestrian, athletics (Track and Field), and sailing. Ireland's only medal at the Games, a gold one, came from Cian O'Connor in the individual Show Jumping event, riding his horse Waterford Crystal. Going into the last round of the Individual Show Jumping, Ireland was in front, albeit with Jessica Kuerten and not O'Connor. However, a faultless last round pushed O'Connor ahead of the rest of the field. O'Connor's medal was Ireland's first gold since controversial swimmer Michelle Smith's three golds and a bronze eight years prior in Atlanta. However, since then, O'Connor has lost his medal after Waterford Crystal tested positive for banned substances. Despite being lapped in the 5,000 metres event, runner Sonia O'Sullivan still completed the event, finishing last in what will probably be her final Olympic Games