Rory McIlroy will represent Ireland once again at the Olympics in Paris.
The 35-year-old golf star, who was born in Northern Ireland, will be competing at his second Olympics after making his debut in Tokyo in 2021.
McIlroy was born in Northern Ireland and was eligible to represent Team GB but opted to play for Ireland three years ago.
In Tokyo, McIlroy and his teammate Shane Lowry finished just outside the medals as they placed fourth but the pair are now aiming for a podium spot in Paris.
Why is Rory McIlroy playing for Ireland and not Great Britain at the Olympics?
McIlroy has revealed that his decision to represent Ireland and not Team GB at the Olympics is because of the decision he made during his amateur career.
Before turning professional, McIlroy played for Ireland and the four-time major winner says he had no reason to change for the Olympics.
In an agreement between the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the British Olympic Association, athletes are permitted to choose which team they wish to represent.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian earlier this month, McIlroy explained why he decided to represent Ireland.
‘I had a sense of resentment towards the Olympics because I had always tried to stay so neutral and it presented me with this option of; what are you going to do?’ McIlroy said.
‘I had to get over that. All of my amateur career I played for Ireland. I was very proud to play for Ireland. So why would I do anything differently as a professional?
‘Tokyo felt like a throwback to the amateur days. All the federations were there. Seeing people from the amateur game who I hadn’t seen for decades. I really enjoyed the experience and I’m sure Paris will be even better because I’ll get to go to some of the other events.
‘It’s a bit like the Ryder Cup, I made comments before I had experienced it. I am excited to go back.’
Speaking more about his decision in 2021, McIlroy said: ‘I made it more difficult for myself than I needed to.
‘My feeling towards it was more ‘What will other people think?’ Once I got that out of my head and just tried to do what was right for me, then it became easy. It was me wrestling with all of those things.
‘As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision. The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game.
‘Even though the Olympics has given me this choice, there really wasn’t a choice because all I’ve done throughout my life is play golf for Ireland so why would that change just because the tournament has changed. That was my decision.’
