- Athletics Ireland launches updated High Performance Strategy for 2026–2028 with a target of delivering an Olympic medal at the LA 2028 Games.
- Plan aims to increase medals at targeted international championships by 20% following a record 34 medals during the Paris Olympic cycle.
- Major focus on professionalising coaching, strengthening athlete support systems, and expanding the performance pathway for emerging Irish talent.
Athletics Ireland has unveiled its updated High Performance Strategy for 2026–2028, outlining an ambitious roadmap aimed at building on the unprecedented success of recent years and delivering further medals on the world stage.
The updated plan builds on the momentum generated during the Paris cycle where Irish athletes exceeded expectations by securing 34 medals at targeted championship events between 2021 and 2024.
The strategy sets out Athletics Ireland’s vision of “more athletes winning on the world stage” and reinforces a mission to evolve the high-performance programme so that Irish athletes consistently deliver medals at global and European championships.
Central to the strategy is an athlete-centred, coach-driven approach designed to strengthen coaching expertise, enhance athlete support systems, and further develop Ireland’s talent pathway.
Key objectives for the 2026–2028 cycle include:
- Delivering an Olympic medal at the LA 2028 Olympic Games
- Increasing the number of medals at targeted championships by a further 20%
- Expanding investment in high-performance coaching and technical expertise
- Strengthening the Performance Pathway Programme to support emerging talent transitioning to senior international competition
- Developing regional centres of excellence through partnerships with universities and local clubs
- Increasing support for athletes’ daily training environments through enhanced coaching, sport science and welfare services
Athletics Ireland currently supports approximately 70 athletes through the Sport Ireland and Athletics Ireland carding system, while close to 200 athletes represent Ireland at pathway and senior international championships annually. The updated strategy aims to further strengthen this pipeline through increased investment in talent identification, athlete development, and coach education.
Performance coaching is identified as a critical priority within the strategy, with Athletics Ireland committing to advancing the professionalisation of high-performance coaching and integrating international expertise within the Irish system.
The organisation will continue to work closely with key partners including Sport Ireland, the Sport Ireland Institute, and the Olympic Federation of Ireland to ensure athletes and coaches have access to world-class performance services.
Seven strategic pillars underpin the plan:
- Focused performance investment
- Athlete performance and holistic support
- World-class coaching and support services
- Business structures and planning
- Partnerships
- World-class facilities and equipment
- Research and innovation
The strategy also highlights the importance of governance, partnerships, and sustainable funding in delivering continued success. Athletics Ireland has committed to generating at least 20% of high-performance programme funding through its own revenue streams, alongside continued investment from Sport Ireland and other stakeholders.
Looking ahead to 2028, Athletics Ireland is targeting 36 medals at key international championships across the cycle, alongside the delivery of a medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Paul McNamara, Director of High Performance said: “I would like to thank all athletes, coaches and other stakeholders that contributed to a review of the Athletics Ireland High Performance Plan 2022 to 2028. This strategy has proven to be robust and impactful in identifying and delivering our objectives, and has underpinned unprecedented success in the first four years of its lifecycle. We must continue to evolve to better support athletes and coaches, as we collectively strive for ever-greater success for our sport on the International stage. This strategy continues to serve as a roadmap for all those tasked with delivering that success for our sport as we move forward towards LA 2028.”
Caroline O’Shea, Chair of High Performance said: “The mid-term review of the Athletics Ireland High Performance Plan 2022 to 2028 has highlighted the achievements to date in the journey towards the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 2025, Irish athletes won 17 medals in key targeted competitions. These results are a testament to the athletes, their coaches and the Athletics Ireland High Performance team. None of this could have been achieved without the investment by Sport Ireland and the support of the Sport Ireland Institute. The Plan has now been refined, and we believe that this plan will provide the optimal framework to support our athletes and deliver more medals for Ireland at global and European competitions.
CEO of Athletics Ireland, Hamish Adams commented: “The growth in international medals over the last Olympic cycle demonstrates the progression of our High Performance programme. This updated strategy sets out how we will continue to strengthen the system to deliver medals consistently at global and European championships leading into LA 2028.”
Click HERE for High-Performance Strategic Plan 2026 – 2028
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Strategic Plan 2026 – 2028
