Trinity Students to Carry the Olympic Flame for the London 2012 Olympics

Posted on: 28 March 2012

Trinity College Dublin students will be carrying the Olympic Flame on June 6th next through the streets of Dublin as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. As a presenting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung opened up a nomination process at Trinity College Dublin to find inspiring young students who would carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Based on their contribution to the community as well as sporting and academic prowess three Trinity students have been selected. They are Áine Ní Choisdealbha, Natalya Coyle and Mark Kenneally. Trinity College Dublin is the only Irish university to participate in the relay which includes 31 other universities across the UK as well as Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

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8,000 inspirational Torchbearers will pass the Olympic Flame as it makes its way through Ireland and the UK on its 70 day journey from May 19th.

Trinity College Dublin’s Vice Provost for Global Relations, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer said: “It is a great privilege that our students and graduates will have this opportunity to participate in such an historic and global event. Our selected students are excellent ambassadors for the College and role models for young people.  It is appropriate that they should carry the Olympic Flame on the world stage on behalf of Trinity and Ireland, in recognition of their civic engagement and achievement in sports and studies.”

The Trinity Olympic Torchbearers:

Áine Ní Choisdealbha

A Trinity Scholar in her first year at Trinity College Dublin, Áine was also awarded a prestigious Trinity Gold Medal in 2011 for the outstanding results achieved in her Psychology degree. She is now studying for an MSc in Neuroscience and her research on human perception has made an international impact. A fluent Irish speaker, Áine has served as Education Officer for the University of Dublin Psychology Society and was also assistant editor of Icarus Magazine, Trinity College’s creative writing journal which celebrates its 60th birthday this year. She has published poetry and campaigned for social issues affecting young women. Alongside her remarkable academic achievements, Áine has also been involved in the TCD Voluntary Tuition programme which provides tuition to children from disadvantaged areas of Dublin city.

Natalya Coyle

Natalya is a student of Business, Economics and Social Studies and one of Trinity College Dublin’s top athletes.  She is on course for qualification to London 2012 in the sport of Modern Pentathlon. Natalya’s immense sporting abilities are reflected in her current World Junior Ranking of 10th and World Senior Ranking of 43rd.  As a Trinity College Dublin sports scholarship recipient in 2010 and 2011, Natalya has also dominated at Irish intervarsity level and would take great pride in carrying the Olympic Flame as part of the Dublin celebrations. Natalya balances the demands of competing at such a high level in five sports, together with the academic commitments of studying for a degree.

Mark Kenneally

Mark is a source of great pride for Trinity College Dublin, becoming its first London 2012 Olympic qualifier. He achieved the Marathon qualifying time in Amsterdam in October 2011 having previously represented Ireland at European and World Cross Country Championships. Mark has represented Trinity College Dublin with great distinction over the years and his outstanding academic and sporting abilities were recognised through Sports Scholarships in 2002 and 2003. Mark started his athletics career with Raheny Shamrock AC and is now a member of Clonliffe Harriers AC.  He has successfully balanced his pursuit of excellence in both sport and scholarship while studying initially for a BSc in Physiotherapy and currently as a PhD student in Physiology.  He is the reigning National Senior 10,000 Champion and was awarded the Athletics Ireland Cross-Country Athlete of the Year in 2010.

“This is a huge honour for me to be given this opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame in my own home town. Having qualified for the Olympics it is an extra special year for me participating in the Olympic Torch Relay,” said Trinity student, Mark Kenneally.