Sports scholarships to the United States are “more competitive than ever” for athletes­, with ten Irish sports stars in receipt of such awards competing at the Paris Olympics.

Among them are the sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke, who took up a scholarship with the University of Texas at Austin in 2021; and Mona McSharry, the Olympic bronze medallist swimmer who qualified from the University of Tennessee in May with a degree in kinesiology.

Others include the golfers Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow in 2014 and 2010 respectively, as well as the diver Ciara McGing, the long-distance runner Brian Fay and the 1500m contestant Sophie O’Sullivan, daughter of Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan.

Andrew Coscoran, a middle-distance runner, was also awarded an athletic scholarship, with an offer from