Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Age: 24

Sport: Shot put

Club or Training Venue: Gowran AC Kilkenny

Hometown: Kilkenny

About Me: I have a form of short stature called Achondroplasia. Although I have competed internationally in shot put, discus, and javelin, I have solely focused on shot put since 2019 when I joined the Irish Paralympic team. What I love most about shot put is its complexity – there’s so much to it. Of course, strength is required, but it’s also a very technical event. There’s no nicer feeling than when all your hard work comes together and results in an explosive throw! To date, I have represented Ireland at a European Championships (Bydgoszcz, Poland 2021, winning bronze), two World Para Athletics Championships (Dubai 2019 and Paris 2023; a finalist at both) and a Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020, 6th place). I am currently preparing for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Sport and you growing up

What was your relationship with sport?

Sport has always been a part of my life. Before getting involved in para sport, I participated in various other sports such as horse riding, gaelic games at school, and inline and ice hockey. I didn’t see the fact that I was shorter than my peers as a reason to hold back. For the most part, I was encouraged by others to get involved in sport and to not let my difference hold me back.

Is there a club, volunteer/coach or a person who you would attribute your success in sport to?

My parents, Evelyn and John have been my number one supporters since the beginning. Growing up, they encouraged me to adopt a can-do attitude in everything I did. They have been there for me on both my best days and during my most challenging times. I will be forever grateful to them.

What do you think sport has taught you?

Where do I start? Sport has taught me to focus on my strengths and what I can do, rather than what I cannot do. It has given me confidence, taught me self-discipline, and allowed me to build up much resilience through navigating the challenges that being a Paralympic athlete can bring. It has taught me that hard work will always pay off. Sport is so much more than just the sport itself!

What are your sporting highlights to date?

I would say that qualifying for and reaching the final at my first Paralympic Games in Tokyo is
my most favourite sporting highlight to date.

What does a normal training week look like for you?

Aside from the outdoor competition season, I work as a paediatric Occupational Therapist, but right now, I am a full-time athlete solely focusing on my sport. Each week varies depending on where I am at during the competition season and what my priorities are, but right now I train six days per week. My week typically consists of shot put throw sessions, strength and conditioning sessions, and other functional strength based sessions. It’s hectic but I am very grateful to be a professional athlete.

What does competing in the Paralympics mean to you?

Competing at the Paralympic Games is the highest level of competition for any para athlete.
From a young age, it was my goal to become a Paralympian, so it was a very proud moment when this was achieved at Tokyo 2020. As mentioned, the Paralympic Games represent elite sport, but the Games are also very powerful in that they transform perceptions of people with disabilities. Thanks to the Paralympic Games, people with disabilities are more often defined by and known for what they can do and what they have achieved, rather than what they cannot do.

Do you agree that multi-sport clubs are important and if so why?

I certainly agree that multi-sport clubs are important. Sport provides so many opportunities to
children as they grow up – physically, mentally, socially, and much more. One’s para sport
journey can begin at one of the many multi-sport clubs across the country, such as Barrow Swifts Junior Multi-Sport Club or Waterford Junior Multi-Sport Club. Go join your local club!

Age: 33

Sport: Archery

Club or Training Venue: Blackheath Archers, IWA Clontarf

Hometown: Meath

About Me: I’m a Paralympic archer who has represented Ireland at 2x European Championships, 3x World Championships and the Tokyo 2020 Games – I’ve been involved in the sport for about 13 years.

• My biggest accolade is that I placed 9th at the Tokyo Paralympics

• I’m a wheelchair user following a farm accident in 1997, you can find out more, here

• You can also find out more about my journey, here

• What I love about archery is that it is a great leveller. In Ireland I’m the only wheelchair user competing right now and I shoot against everyone else and there is no difference. In fact I’ve been Irish Champion for the past 2 years in the able bodied category – btw I hate that I need to use that distinction!

Sport and you growing up

What was your relationship with sport

Sport has always been extremely important in my family, my father is an ex jockey and my grandfather and great grandfather both represented Ireland in polo – so of course I logically chose a sport without a horse!

I did find it hard to visualise myself in a sport growing up, I tried a lot of sports but because I couldn’t see anyone who looked like me in sport it meant I didn’t commit to a sport until later in life.

This may have had a lot to do with growing up in the countryside and not having a local club that I could join and explore what I was good at.

Is there a club, volunteer/coach or a person who you would attribute your success in sport to?

All credit for my career success would go to Jim Conroy my coach and Ciara Dunne who manages all of the logistics for competitions. However, the reason I’m in the sport in the first place is the late Christy Kelly who taught my beginners course many years ago and he was a wheelchair user himself so he understood what I needed to learn to participate in the sport.

What do you think sport has taught you?

Sport has taught me to be more accepting of my disability as I’ve seen other people with disabilities and discussed their experiences. Sport has also humbled me and given me more resiliency as I’ve coped with the bigger losses and still continued to compete.

What are you sporting highlights to date?

Qualifying for Ireland and Tokyo 2020. Getting to represent my country was huge but actually the number of competitors who cheered me on from the stands sticks in my mind as there was no crowd during Covid

What does a normal training week look like for you?

I try to make sure that I have 3 to 4 consistent training sessions a week, but no week is normal. I work full time and the rule is “where I can find time, get time”. I then try to make up the rest of the week with as much meaningful additions as I can like psychology.

What would competing in the Paralympics mean to you?

Getting to compete at another Paralympics would be huge for me. I’ve had a long Paralympics cycle and would love to have the reward to get to Paris.

It also (I’m hoping) would be instrumental in getting more people with disabilities in archery as my visibility increases throughout the Games.

Do you agree that multi-sport clubs are important and if so why?

Multi-sports are very important as they give young athletes a flavour of sports they might like and can participate in.

From a socialisation point of view I can also imagine they are extremely important as there are big themes and issues that other people cannot understand but your peers can.

Yes there is always an option to move into elite sport at some point in the future but a young person’s development is hinged on the people and experiences they are exposed to, if that doesn’t exist or they don’t get a chance to do so they miss out.

Age: 19

Sport: Para Powerlifting

Club or Training Venue: Irish Para Powerlifting

Hometown: Ballydesmond, Co. Cork

About Me: I am a powerlifter; I have been competing internationally for 2 years. I currently study Health, Sport, and Exercise Science at MTU Kerry. I started benching during the first COVID lockdown and was soon hooked into the training/gym world. I love the camaraderie in the gym. Training and achieving goals are very addictive. As well as feeling physically strong it’s also great for your mental health and wellbeing.

Sport and you growing up

I have been taking part in the IWA Sport wheelchair basketball Junior Blitz programme since I was 10 years old. It can be difficult to try and adapt some sports for wheelchair users, but basketball is amazing. Having everyone in wheelchairs and playing with siblings and friends was just great fun. Being a part of the Kingdom Wheelblasters, we travelled the length and breadth of the country playing games and making friends. I have great memories of getting my first basket and falling out of the sports chair for the first time.

Is there a club, volunteer/coach or a person who you would attribute your success in sport to?

I have always looked up to my coach Roy Guerin who is a 3-time Paralympian. Roy has helped me to have more confidence, he saw my potential so pushed me to my limit when I needed it. He is a killer in the gym (sorry Roy).

What do you think sport has taught you?

Sport has taught me to be more confident. It has taught me to have more self-belief. And most importantly that hard work pays off.

What are your sporting highlights to date?

My highlights to date are winning a European Junior Gold medal in 2022 and winning a junior world silver medal in 2023. One of my favourite moments was my first competition in Cork. I had been struggling for the 2-3 months prior to hitting my target. I couldn’t lift 60kg and I had just got bogged down over it, as I had been doing well in training. When the bar flew up I came off the stage feeling amazing. I cried a bit too, and still get a slagging for it.

What does a normal training week look like for you?

My current programme has me in the gym 3 days a week, I still play basketball with the Limerick Celtics for cardio. I am also in the pool once a week for college.

What would competing in the Paralympics mean to you?

Competing in the Paralympics is my main focus. It’s the pinnacle of sport. I’ve attended a few Paralympic camps and seeing elite athletes who have physical disabilities is cool. It really pushes you forward. To qualify for a Paralympics would mean so much to me, my coach, family, friends, and club. I’m working so hard to get there.

Do you agree that multi-sport clubs are important and if so, why?

Multi-sports clubs are vital for disability sports in my opinion. In my years with the Kingdom Wheelblasters, I tried out, Para-badminton, floor volleyball, athletics, track chair racing, and hand cycling to name a few. I have made friends throughout all the different clubs. The clubs are a pathway to so many different sports but most importantly having fun and craic. I think all the clubs look out for all their members and that’s what matters.

Age: 38

Sport: Athletics

Club or Training Venue: Le Cheile Athletic Club – Training at Le Cheile Athletics Track and Mondello Park

Hometown: Caragh, Naas, Co. Kildare

About Me: I complete in wheelchair racing, previously from 800 metres to marathon (Track and Road), now just marathon distance. I have been involved in the sport since 2013 when I completed my first Dublin City Marathon and got a massive buzz from participating in an event that promotes inclusion. I love that the sport, even at the highest level, has a strong sense of camaraderie where ideas and experiences are shared. I compete in the World Marathon Major Series, and there has been significant progress towards equality and recognition for elite wheelchair athletes, such as equal prize money at the London Marathon for elite runners and wheelchair racers. Also, in an individual sport, you are rewarded for your effort and it allows for flexibility.

Sport and you growing up

What was your relationship with sport?

I sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of a road traffic accident in 2007. I was 21 years old at the time, so I didn’t have experience of trying to access sports growing up. I have always had a keen interest in sports, I played gaelic football, hurling and participated in athletics. I was very anxious about trying sports after my accident, but it was the best thing I ever did. I contacted Mark Barry from IWA-Sport in 2013 after seeing the London Paralympic Games in 2012, and I am very grateful that he managed to source me a chair to try wheelchair racing. Le Cheile A.C. was very accommodating and offered the track as a training point for a group of racers from around the country who gathered monthly to train and share experiences. However, it also encouraged others to come and try.

Is there a club, volunteer/coach or a person who you would attribute your success in sport to?

I would say many people have contributed to my success. Firstly, my family as they have always supported my sporting dreams. The catalyst for my success in the sport was meeting my coach Ian Mirfin from Scotland, in 2014 at a training event in Belfast. He guided me from a training perspective and opened many doors for me to learn from other world-class athletes in the U.S. and for advice on equipment such as race chair position and gloves that are key to success. Only for Ian, I am sure I wouldn’t have gotten to the level I am at today as I lacked advice on the key technical sides of wheelchair racing at the time, and my progress would have plateaued. I would also say that Le Cheile Athletic Club was very open to having me as a club member and recognised the importance of inclusivity in challenging stereotypes.

What do you think sport has taught you?

The sport has thought me the importance of discipline, which transferred to all areas of life, and I learned the hard way that recovery is just as important as the hard training sessions! I would also say that having been to the Paralympics and trained around Irish para-athletes from other sports opened my eyes to how resilient and adaptive para-athletes are. There is a sport for all, regardless of disability. I would say that sport has taught me that physical activity is crucial to my wellbeing, both physical and mental, which is probably the most essential factor that sport provides me with.

What are you sporting highlights to date?

I would say qualifying for the Rio Paralympics in 2016 was my biggest highlight as I was completing less than three years. To have my parents there was very special, given the effect my accident nine years previous would have had on my family. Qualifying for Tokyo was also special because I had broken my own Irish record by a further seven minutes down to 1:22:23. I have finished in the top six in four of the world marathon majors (Chicago, New York, Berlin and Boston) and podiumed at other international marathons. Finishing the Dublin marathon for the first time back in 2013 was one of my best-ever experiences. It really showed me that having a disability can’t hold me back, and I can determine my own future with hard work and dedication.

What does a normal training week look like for you?

A typical training week involves training six days per week with one day of rest (usually Sundays, depending on training). I train once a day most days, with double sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays.

• Monday – is usually a speed interval session on indoor or rollers or track for around 70 minutes, covering around 25km minimum
• Tuesday – I do a 25km – 30km steady aerobic conditioning push on local roads
• Wednesday – Morning gym session at K-Leisure (an accessible and inclusive gym) followed by an evening 20km recovery push
• Thursday – 30km medium paced
• Friday – Morning gym session followed by a 20km recovery push later
• Saturday – 30-35km threshold push

What would competing in the Paralympics mean to you?

I will not be competing in Paris as I tried to balance a busy life schedule during the qualifying period. I always knew this was a strong possibility, and I missed the marathon High-Performance Standard by five seconds. It would have been great, given it would have been my closest games to home for more family and friends to attend. Still, I look forward to watching what should be a great spectacle, and I’m training for a busy autumn period of racing in Berlin, Chicago, Cape Town, Dublin and New York.

Do you agree that multi-sport clubs are important and if so why?

Multi-sports clubs are vital for promoting inclusion and offering a space for young people to try different sports in a fun and safe environment. It is essential that clubs are locally accessible to reduce barriers to participation and that they are promoted to highlight the importance of inclusivity. The most important outcome is that young people of all abilities can participate, sample and enjoy multiple sports and experience a sense of belonging. The IWA can guide them if they want to pursue an individual sport. So, they serve as a tool for sporting and civic inclusivity, and they may challenge stereotypes and empower young people. They can also offer a support network to parents.