Former Athlone shooting club member officially selected for Tokyo Olympics

Derek Burnett, a former Athlone Clay Pigeon Club member who went on to become Ireland's most decorated shooter, has been offically selected to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

It's the latest milestone in the career of the Kenagh, Longford, man who will be taking part in his fifth Olympics, a feat matched by just two other Irish athletes; Rob Heffernan (race walker) and David Wilkins (sailor).

Derek (51) made his debut at the Sydney Games in 2000 and since then has competed in every Olympics apart from Rio in 2016.

His highest finish at an Olympic Games was joint ninth in Athens in 2004.

"It's an amazing thing to be selected for the Olympics, it's a difficult thing to describe," said Derek this week.

"You can be selected for a World Cup or a European Championships or World Championships – all of which are great. But being selected for an Olympics just tops everything, it's just wonderful."

The Men's Trap event at the Games takes place in the Asaka Shooting Range from July 29 to 30.

Early on, Derek learned much of his trade in the Athlone club which he joined at the age of 12.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent ahead of the London Olympics in 2012, he said: "I have many happy memories of the old clay pigeon club in Athlone, as my father and I were members of the club and it was where I started at 12 years of age.

"It was a great nursery for my shooting career. It's a pity the club no longer exists as it was one of the premier shooting ranges in the country at the time, attracting large crowds from all over the country."

Team Ireland now consists of 96 officially selected athletes, with over 110 athlete spots confirmed, making this the largest-ever team to represent Ireland.

The Olympic Games in Tokyo will run from July 23 to August 8.