Davis secures ticket to Bejing
Monday, 9 June 2008 18:02Ireland's leading triathlete Emma Davis finished an impressive 15th at the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver and so booked booked her place at the Beijing Olympics.
Davis' performance represents the best ever finish by an Irish triathlete at World Championship level, in, remarkably, the 22 year old's first World Championships.
Crucially, this was the last race to count towards rankings for Olympic qualification carrying bonus ranking points. Heading into the event, Davis was lying in the 47th Olympic qualifying spot of 55 on offer, and with bonus points earned in Vancouver for her high finish will have climbed the rankings even further to secure qualification for the Summer Games, subject to official confirmation from the International Triathlon Union (ITU).
In doing so Davis makes history by becoming the first Irish triathlete to qualify for the Olympic Games. Official confirmation of Davis' place from the ITU is not expected until 21 June.
Over eight races this season Davis, who is supported under the Irish Sports Council's International Carding Scheme, has performed consistently well to climb the rankings into an Olympic qualifying position.
Her best result came in the World Cup in Richards Bay, South Africa where she finished an impressive ninth.
