Sports scholarships to the United States are “more competitive than ever” for athletes, with ten Irish sports stars in receipt of such awards competing at the Paris Olympics.
Among them are the sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke, who took up a scholarship with the University of Texas at Austin in 2021; and Mona McSharry, the Olympic bronze medallist swimmer who qualified from the University of Tennessee in May with a degree in kinesiology.
Others include the golfers Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow in 2014 and 2010 respectively, as well as the diver Ciara McGing, the long-distance runner Brian Fay and the 1500m contestant Sophie O’Sullivan, daughter of Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan.
Andrew Coscoran, a middle-distance runner, was also awarded an athletic scholarship, with an offer from