Eight athletes will represent Ireland at the Modern Pentathlon European Championships in Bath this week.

There are direct spots for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year available for both the top eight male and female athletes.

Among the Irish competing are 2012 Olympians Natalya Coyle and Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe, who are tipped to secure spots for Rio.

In 2012, they both secured Olympic qualification in the year of the games. Qualification this year would make their preparation for the Games more focused on the the Olympics itself.

High Performance Director Andy Mackenzie said: "Natalya and Arthur have the quality to qualify and, as long as they focus on the processes and not the result, I am very confident that they will.

"2015 has been a very positive season so far with Natalya and Arthur in really good form. Our preparation for the European Championships has gone well and I'm excited to get this competition under way."

The event starts with the mixed relay, an event that Ireland has won three silver medals in this year, through Coyle and O'Keeffe.

Mixed relay team: Kate Coleman-Lenehan and Tom O'Brien

Ladies relay team: Sally McCarthy and Jenny McGeever

Men's individual: Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe, Eanna Bailey, Tom O'Brien

Women's individual: Natalya Coyle, Sive Brassil, Kate Coleman-Lenehan and Sally McCarthy/Jenny McGeever