Badminton star Rachael Darragh recently secured her spot at this summer’s Olympic Games, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Chloe Magee, who was a three time Olympian in the same sport.
Magee represented Ireland at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, but now, it’s Darragh who will take centre stage in Paris 2024, having made the 38 player cut.
Stood at 34th in the world rankings come the close of the qualification window last month, she was awaiting the illustrious call to confirm the new she had been waiting for her entire life.
The word eventually came through, with Badminton Ireland's high performance director, Dan Magee, her uncle, getting in touch with her to share the good news.
Badminton star Rachael Darragh 's reaction to Olympic qualification
“This little girl is going to the Olympics !!” the Raphoe Badminton Club woman says on her qualification on Instagram.
She went on to describe the “surreal” feeling she was experiencing around that news, and that the “Olympic qualification process has been one of the craziest times of [her] life.”
“It has taught me so much about myself,” she says.
“I am forever grateful for the extremely hard working team that I have around me every single day who have experienced every emotion by my side.. which I can promise there was many.
“It would not be possible without every single one of you and I am so excited to continue to work together towards the Games.”
Nhat Nguyen has also qualified, meaning Team Ireland will have two badminton athletes competing at the Games.
Just last month, Darragh reached the last 32 of the European Championships, while earlier this year she also made the quarter finals of the Madrid Spain Masters World Tour.
16 years on from when her aunt Chloe Magee enjoyed her maiden Olympics in 2008, Darragh will look to make her own piece of history this summer.
