Irish Paralympians are officially giving Katie Taylor a run for her money, after they scooped three more gold medals for Ireland yesterday.
Just one day after Bethany Firth, from county Down, zoomed to victory in the 100m backstroke S14 event, Darragh McDonald, from county Wexford, came in first place in the men’s 400m freestle.
Darragh’s victory was soon followed by another incredible win from sprinter Jason Smyth, who left his rivals eating his dust when he not only took a gold medal but also made a new world record in the event.
These wins were capped off when Michael McKillop bagged a gold in the 800m and also made a new world record. Amazing or what?
Darragh McDonald, 18, swims to victory in the 400m freestyle yesterday.
Darragh, the 18-year old from Gorey in Wexford, is an amputee who competes in the So disability division. He is missing part of one arm below the elbow and both his lower legs, but he has never let this hold him back – as evidenced by his amazing win yesterday.
“From this morning I knew I had more left in the tank but I didn’t think there was that much. It is great, it shows how far Paralympics swimming has come in four years,” said Darragh.
“I said to myself before I started that I was not going to think about times. That is what I did. It’s a 10-second PB [personal best] since this morning. I cannot believe it, it’s just great,” he added.
Michael McKillop celebrates his gold medal win and his new world record.
Paralympian Jason Symyth, who has 10 per cent vision said of his win: “This just goes to show that if you work hard and apply yourself you can achieve at the greatest level.”
No one can accuse Team Ireland of giving anything less than 110 per cent – are they inspirational or what?
