Ireland's biggest medal hopes at Paris Olympics

As the Games begin, optimism is undeniably high. Ireland head to France with the largest team we've ever brought to an Olympics - 133 competitors across 14 sports.

Ireland's best medal haul (six in total) came at London 2012, when Katie Taylor (gold), John Joe Nevin (silver), Paddy Barnes (bronze) and Michael Conlan (bronze) delivered in the boxing ring, with Cian O'Connor (equestrian bronze) and Rob Heffernan (50km walk bronze) also making the podium.

This time around Team Ireland looks equipped to beat that record.

We take a look at the Irishmen and women who arrive in Paris with particularly strong hopes.

Rhys McClenaghan
(Pommel horse)

Still only 25, McCleneghan boasts a sparkling CV: two World Championship golds, three European golds and a Commonwealth Games gold. There's one obvious omission from that honours list and make no mistake, the Newtownards man is in Paris to put it right. McCleneghan is unapologetically going for gold. In Tokyo he came off the apparatus early in his final routine to eventually finish seventh - a gut-wrenching slice of bad fortune. Gold in France would be sweet redemption.

Daniel Wiffen
(Swimming 800m freestyle & 1500m freestyle)

A serious contender in the pool, Wiffen will go in the 1500m, 800m and 10km open-water swim. He made Irish swimming history at the World Aquatics Championships in February when he won golds in both the 800m and the 1500m freestyle. Wiffen has since said he wasn't 100% happy wih elements of his technique, and promised we will see "a new Daniel Wiffen in Paris". That's a tantalising prospect.

Rhasidat Adeleke
(Women's 400m)

Already a star, Adeleke's profile could go into another orbit over the next fortnight. The form lines are encouraging, given she clocked a PB of