Team NI could send as many as five pairs of siblings to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham which start in just over 40 days.
Belfast boxers Aidan and Michaela Walsh both won silver medals four years ago at the Gold Coast Games and they will be in action when the first bell rings at the NEC.
Omagh sisters Sarah and Rachell Hawkes will compete on the judo mats after their selection was confirmed in April.
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The Magee sisters, Emma and Michelle, who both play in the Vitality Netball Super League for Surrey Storm and Leeds Rhinos respectively, have been picked on coach Elaine Rice’s travelling party.
And sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan are in contention to make the athletics squad for the trip to the West Midlands.
Twin sisters Chloe and Judith MacCombe from Claudy will compete in the para-triathlon, and unlike the older siblings in the squad they will actually go head-to-head against each other for a medal as they are competing in the same race at the Commonwealth Games.
“We got into triathlon by accident,” explained Chloe.
“We were part of the para rowing team for Ireland but that fell through a little bit. We went to a Team Ireland expo event and bumped into the triathlon guys and they asked us if we could swim, cycle and run.
"We said 'a little bit' and he said there is a training day in Belfast next week and why don’t we come along. And that was pretty much it.
“Both of us went together, we would have been about 23 or 24. It wasn’t over difficult to change sports because we had only got into rowing at university and had only really been doing it three or four years anyway, so in terms of switching sport it wasn’t that difficult and in terms of the high performance end we were used to pushing ourselves hard.”
Judith added: “It is similar muscle groups as well from rowing to cycling, you have to be fit for rowing anyway so you have to do a bit of running and we could stay afloat in a pool at that stage.”
The twins dabbled in a few sports before concentrating on triathlon.
“We did karate when we were going up. We lived out in the countryside so in terms of after school sports there weren't really buses out home afterwards, so we’d just run around the fields things like that,” stated Chloe.
“We did karate mostly to keep fit, we did the odd fight and stuff just in local competitions but never anything massive.
“Triathlon was tough just to get used to combining those three sports together especially the bike into the run, but like anything it just takes practice and you just have to keep doing it and eventually you get better.
“I think we have always been into running in some sort of capacity then swimming and cycling just had to be added into the mix for triathlon.
“I think we have always been into running in some sort of capacity then swimming and cycling just had to be added into the mix for triathlon.”
Julie commented: “There is slight bit of enjoyment in it when you are doing it, like that wasn’t too bad maybe I can do it faster and you keep going back, I definitely love the running, that’s my favourite.”
Both have won Irish National Championships but despite being sisters there is a real competitive edge when they meet head to head.
“It’s like we both kind of take it in turns, in kind of who wins and who comes second we are really competitive," Chloe said.
"We have always been really competitive, that sort of twin thing. Even at school everyone was always comparing us in some sort of way, not intentionally but it was always there.
“I think we sort of motivate each other in terms of racing, we want to beat each other but at the same time I know if Judith fell over in a race I’d feel bad for her but I’d keep running."
“When our guides are running with us it they be like I can see your sister you need to pick up the speed,” explained Judith.
“If I fell over and Chloe stopped to help me I’d be like, 'leave go get the medal'.”
With the games virtually on their own doorstep Chloe is hoping to have plenty of support when the racing starts in Sutton Park.
“We’re especially proud that it is a home games and sort of local so we can have family and friends come over and support us. The fact that we are both there racing against each other, the rest of the race and competition doesn’t matter it’s just going to be me versus her,” enthused Chloe.
“Sometimes they will pick one of us and you can hear, ‘go on Judith, beat Chloe, I’ll hear that and go 'well, that is not going to happen'.
“Training is just going to be pretty intense but coming up to any sort of races that is the way training is going to be but with the goal of the Commonwealths it is going to push us that little bit harder in training.'
Chloe added: “It’s great to have such a big team of para-athletes just to have them represent Northern Ireland but just so other people can see that para-sport is up and coming and is something people should get involved in and learn more about."
Judith said: “Hopefully we can inspire some younger athletes that haven’t tried sport because maybe they are visionally impaired and they feel like they can’t it will show them that they can and give it a go."
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