Of the 37 athletes representing either Team GB or Team Ireland across 12 sports, many have already won medals at Commonwealth, European and World level and for the first time, Northern Ireland has three current world champions competing in Paris.
Newtownards gymnast Rhys McClenaghan is a two-time world champion, a three-time European champion and a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and if he can claim the Olympic title he would complete the gymnastics Grand Slam.
Daniel Wiffen from Magheralin became the first Team Ireland swimmer to claim global titles when he won the 800m and 1500m freestyle at this years World Championships. That’s to go along side a litany of National records, a European record and a World record in the short course 800m freestyle.
Coleraine rower Hannah Scott was pivotal in helping Great Britain win the women’s quad sculls at last year’s World rowing championships in Belgrade.
The quartet added the European title this year and go into Paris as favourites.
Rowing could be the epicentre of Northern Ireland success.
Scott’s team-mate Rebecca Shorten is a former world champion in the women’s four and will compete alongside two-time Olympic winner Helen Glover.
As a four, they are unbeaten with a European title in the back pocket and favourites to win gold in Paris.
Rebecca Edwards was fourth in the women’s eight in Belgrade but earlier last season had won a World Cup gold. Now in the women’s pair, the Aughnacloy rower shouldn not be dismissed either.
Five of six Northern Ireland rowers won world championship medals last year so watch out for Team Ireland’s Philip Doyle from Banbridge and the County Fermanagh duo of Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan.