28 July 2012 Last updated at 10:03

Who's who? Meet Northern Ireland's Olympic hopefuls in Team GB and Team IRE

Coleraine brothers Peter and Richard are preparing to compete in the lightweight fours at the Olympics. They are one of Northern Ireland's top medal hopes. The brothers said that, while they wanted to enjoy the London Olympics, their sole aim was to win. First event: 28 July at 09:30 BST.

Paddy Barnes hopes to become the first Irish boxer to pick up a medal at two Olympic Games when he competes at London 2012. The Belfast light-flyweight won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 but says he is "not feeling any pressure".

Coleraine man Alan Campbell will be representing Team GB in the Rowing Men's Single Sculls. Campbell gave up his degree and Army training in 2003 to concentrate on rowing. He got married the week after the 2011 World Championships.

Lisa Kearney competes for Yamakwai, Belfast. The 22-year-old will be the first woman to compete for Ireland in judo at the Olympics. In Samoa in 2010, Kearney became the first Irish woman to win gold at a World Cup event. In total, she has won four World Cup gold medals and a Commonwealth Games title to date.

Team GB cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel took silver in the individual pursuit behind Rebecca Romero at the Beijing Olympics but that event is no longer on the Olympic programme so she has switched her focus to the team pursuit. She is a three-time world champion in the team event and has won individual silver at each of the major championships.

Enniskillen's Gavin Noble will be representing Team Ireland. He is Ireland's number one male triathlete since 2002 will be the first Irish male to compete in the sport at an Olympic Games.

Portaferry teenager Sycerika McMahon will be representing Ireland in swimming at the Olympics. McMahon, 17, is the youngest ever Irish swimmer to win a major championship medal. First event: 100m breaststroke heats, 29 July 10:00 BST

Ryan Seaton, 23, from Carrickfergus and Matt McGovern, 25, from Bangor will be representing Team Ireland. The Northern Irish sailors qualified in the 49er class. McGovern is regarded as one of the best 49er crews in the world and has the previous experience of an Olympic campaign in 2008.

Armoy native Hannah Craig, 27, qualified for London 2012 at the European Championships in Germany. She will be representing Team Ireland in the K1 canoe slalom. She is now largely based in Belfast with her coach Han Binjen.

Belfast-born Iain Lewers made his England debut in 2011, having made more than 80 appearances for Ireland before sitting out of international hockey for three years in order to make himself available for selection for Great Britain. Lewers was part of the England side that won European bronze last year.

Na Liu will be representing Team GB in the Women's table tennis team event. Liu grew up in the China's north east province of Liaoning and moved to Northern Ireland in 2001. First event: 3 August at 10:00 BST

Newtownards man Martyn Irvine. 27, will be Team Ireland’s sole representative in track cycling at London 2012. He will compete in the omnium event at the Games. After the London qualifying event Irvine had 470 ranking points which qualified him for the Games.

Melanie Nocher won a European Short Course bronze medal in December

Belfast swimmer Melanie Nocher will be representing Ireland at the London Olympics. Nocher holds 18 records at junior and senior levels in long-course and short-course events in Northern Ireland. First event: 200m women's back-stroke heats, 2 August at 10:00 BST.

Belfast flyweight Michael Conlan is representing Team Ireland. Conlan clinched his place at the 2012 Olympics by reaching the quarter-finals of the World Amateur Championships. The 19-year-old beat number two seed Nordine Oubaali of France 20-17 at the contest in Baku.

Aileen Morrison from Derry is greeted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny ahead of her appearance at the Olympic Games. Morrison trains in Lisburn and is looking forward to representing Team Ireland in the Triathlon.

Team Ireland's James Espey, 28, qualified for the Olympics through the Laser World Championships in Germany. Espey, from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough, achieved Olympic qualification when he made the gold fleet in day four of the event in Germany. First event: 30 July, 12:00 BST.

Belfast cyclist David McCann will compete at his third Olympics in London. McCann, 39, will represent Team Ireland in both the road race and time trial events at the London Games. He represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games time trial, finishing fifth.

Emma Higgins from Ballymena is one of four reserves on Team GB Women's Olympic Football Team. Higgins has played for Glentoran and Northern Ireland. She is currently playing for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík Football Club), a successful Icelandic football team.

Northern Ireland

Who's who? Meet Northern Ireland's Olympic hopefuls in Team GB and Team IRE

Share this page

Related Stories

Related Internet links

Services

About BBC News