Irish Team Media Guide Rio Paralympic Games

IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE RIO PARALYMPIC GAMES

#MORETHANSPORT 2016 PAGE // 2 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE RIO PARALYMPIC GAMES

Table of Contents

The Road to Rio // 04

Paralympics Explained // 06

Irish Paralympic History // 08

What’s new for Rio 2016 // 10

Where to go -Paralympic Venues //12

Irish team fast facts // 14

Meet the Chef -Denis Toomy //16

Meet Team Ireland // 18

Paralympics Ireland Media Services // 64

Brazilian words and phrases // 66

Tweet tweet // 70

Glossary Of terms // 71

Competition Schedule // 72 THE ROAD TO RIO PAGE // 4 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 s the Irish Team marches into the Maracana the necessary support in order to ensure optimum A Stadium for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games performance at the Games. Working from a qua- Opening Ceremony on September 7th, it will be the drennial Performance Plan which was laid down in final step of a long and hard-fought journey. For the the aftermath of London 2012, Toomey and Malone 46 Irish athletes, this journey hasn’t always been an have worked hand in hand to support the staff and easy one. It has been one that has been filled with sports science and medical team to help these ath- highs and lows, ups and downs, disappointments letes reach key performance. and successes, but inevitably, one that has brought As a result, 2015 was a key year in the calen- them to the pinnacle of their sporting career and dar for Irish athletes, with World Championships now sees them on the greatest of all sporting stages. in a number of sporting disciplines. As support to The Opening Ceremony will mark a major individual sports, Paralympics Ireland also provided milestone in these athletes’ lives. For many, it will bespoke training and information sessions with be their first taste of a Paralympic Games and will multi-sport camps and conferences. Irish athletes undoubtedly be a memory they will savour and relish continued to make their mark on the world stage, for years to come. For others, it is another stepping with Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop both claim- stone on the pathway of their careers, the end point ing World Championship gold medals, while new- of years and years of hard work. With that marker comer Noelle Lenihan made her mark on the athlet- comes hope, determination and an overwhelming ics scene on her debut in Doha where she won silver desire to do themselves, their families, their town and set a new World Record. Swimmer Ellen Keane and country proud. For them, it is the next chapter in secured a World Championship bronze medal, while their story – a story founded in dedication, sacrifice, para cyclist Eoghan Clifford and team mates Katie- commitment, passion and pride. A story that stems George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal also continued from the belief that “I can” and “I will”. A story that to win numerous medals on the Para Cycling World breaks down obstacles, breaks down boundaries and Cup scene. Athletes Niamh McCarthy and Deirdre sees only one possible ending – success - in whatever Mongan will also be making their Paralympic Games shape that may be. For these athletes, it is more than debut, while table tennis player Rena McCarron sport. It’s more than years of training, years of hard Rooney will be returning for her second Paralympic work, years of an unwavering self-belief. Everyone Games appearance. who tunes in to watch this year’s Games will be privy With logistics for Rio set to be a lot more trying to this something more, this something special. than that of London four years ago, plans were From a Paralympics Ireland perspective, the quickly put in place to shape and organize the 2016 planning and preparation to deliver the best-pre- Pre-Games Holding Camp in Uberlandia, Brazil, with pared team for Rio began many years ago. The first the support of Sport Ireland. Following a summer milestone on this journey was the appointment of of intensive research and preparation, a number Denis Toomey as Chef de Mission of the Irish Team of athletes and staff travelled to Uberlandia to the in 2014. Toomey was joined by the new Performance Pre-Games Base Familiarisation Camp to experience Director of Paralympics Ireland Dave Malone in 2015 first-hand the climate and training conditions that and together, they have set about implementing and they would face exactly one year later in 2016. managing a successful qualification process for the Irish team, while ring-fencing the athletes with all of

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 5 PARALYMPICS EXPLAINED he first Paralympic Games for athletes with a by just 5,000 people. T physical disability took place in Rome in 1960 Sixteen years later the Paralympics had its first but the genesis of the idea came from Britain’s Stoke Winter Games while its summer version, in Toronto, Mandeville hospital which, since 1948, had run inter- had swelled to 13 sports, over 1,500 athletes and 40 national Games to encourage its patients to return countries. That was also the first time that amputees to sport as part of their rehab. and visually impaired athletes were included. Since Over half a century ago, those first Paralympic then, the Paralympic movement has grown dramat- Games featured just eight sports, 400 athletes and ically. 23 countries and the closing ceremony was attended Fast forward to London 2012, and a record 2.7

PAGE // 6 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 million tickets were sold for a Summer Paralympic preposition ‘para’ (beside or alongside). It underlines Games which involved 4,237 athletes from 164 coun- that Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olym- tries in 20 sports. pics and illustrates how the two movements exist The Paralympics has grown to become an elite side-by-side. multi-sport event for athletes with physical and The Paralympic Games have always been held sensory disability that can match any in world sport in the same year as the Olympic Games. Since the with its feats of skill, courage and drama. Seoul Summer Paralympics (1988), and the Albert- Athletes compete in various classes of compe- ville Winter Paralympic Games (1992), they have tition and are classified according to their disability, also taken place at the same venues as the Olympic but it is their athleticism, not their disability, that is Games. In 2001, an agreement was signed between showcased. the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the Classification is simply a structure for compe- IPC (International Paralympic Committee) securing tition. Not unlike wrestling, boxing or weightlifting this practice for the future. where athletes are categorised by weight, elite ath- In London 2012 the Games were broadcast to letes with disabilities are grouped in classes defined over 100 countries and territories and attracted a by the degree of function presented by their impair- cumulative television audience of 3.8 billion world- ment. wide. Channel 4 screened over 150 hours of live The Paralympic movement groups athletes into coverage and 11.2 million watched the opening cer- six different classes: amputee, Cerebral Palsy, visual emony, the channel’s biggest single audience in a impairment, spinal cord injuries, intellectual impair- decade. 2012 was also the first ‘social media’ Games ment and a group which includes all those that do with over 1.3 million tweets mentioning ‘Paralym- not fit into the aforementioned groups (les autres). pic’, 25 million visited London 2012.com and over There are further sub-classes within these 5.8 million downloaded or installed the London groups defined by each sport. These are determined Paralympic App. These Games stood out even more by a variety of processes (classification) that may from an Irish perspective as Ireland’s Michael McK- include a physical and technical assessment, and illop – alongside Kenya’s Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo observation in and out of competition. - was given the Whang Youn Dai award for the ath- Classification is an on-going process. When an letes who best exemplified the spirit of the greatest athlete starts competing, they are allocated a class Paralympic Games to date. that may be reviewed regularly throughout their Rio 2016, which will feature over 4,000 athletes career. from more than 150 countries on September 7th to Since the London 2012 Paralympics, for 18th, is set to be an even greater talent showcase example, Ireland’s sprint superstar Jason Smyth has of the world’s greatest Paralympic athletes. Such is been re-classified twice, first to the T12 class and the public interest and appreciation for them now then back to T13. His return to T13 last winter means that Irish broadcaster RTÉ will be providing daily he will only defend one of his Paralympic titles in coverage of the Games across all of their platforms Rio because the T13 200m event is no longer on the while Channel 4 has further increased its coverage programme. for what promises to be a spectacular and thrilling The word ‘Paralympic’ derives from the Greek 15th Summer Paralympic Games.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 7 IRISH PARALYMPIC HISTORY

PAGE // 8 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 reland has a proud tradition at the Paralympic Paralympic athletes are supported and funded I Games but rarely has it had one single day as through Sport Ireland’s elite support systems, which great as September 1, 2012. included €1.28m in grants in 2016, plus all the ser- In what was the Irish equivalent of Britain’s vices available at the Institute of Sport. ‘Super Saturday’ at the London Olympics, the 2012 Paralympics Ireland’s constituent members Paralympics started with gold medals for Ireland’s includes two disability specific multi-sport organ- Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop on the track isations (Irish Wheelchair Association Sport and and a third gold from Wexford swimmer Darragh Vision Sport Ireland), plus a wide number of national McDonald. governing bodies. These include Cycling Ireland, It was an unforgettable start to a Games that Canoeing Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, the Irish went on to yield 16 medals for Ireland (eight gold, Sailing Association, Rowing Ireland, Tennis Ireland, three silver and five bronze) in Athletics, Swimming, Table Tennis Ireland, Badminton Ireland, Triathlon Cycling and Dressage - a huge leap from Beijing Ireland and the Irish Taekwondo Union. 2008 (three gold, one silver, one bronze) and Athens The Irish team for Rio 2016 will consist of 46 2004 (three silver, one bronze). athletes from the following 10 sports: Ireland has competed in every Paralympic Athletics Games since their inception in 1960, with the Canoeing Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI) founded in 1987, Cycling (Road and Track) initially as a coordination committee for the 1988 Equestrian (Dressage) Seoul Paralympics and later as the national repre- Football sentative organisation for sanctioned events of the Sailing International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Shooting In 2011, the organisation re-launched itself as Swimming Paralympics Ireland and is now responsible for the Table Tennis preparation and management of the Irish team in the Triathlon lead up to, and at, the Paralympic Games.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 9 WHAT’S NEW FOR RIO 2016 PAGE // 10 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 he 15th Summer Paralympics will be held in Rio ‘is always growing and overcoming obstacles.’ T de Janeiro on September 7-18, 2016. The Brazil- The organising committee has committed itself to ian city, with its stunning landmarks, should provide ‘deliver excellent Games, with memorable celebra- a perfect backdrop for what is the pinnacle of every tions that will promote the global image of Brazil, para athlete’s career. underpinned by social and urban sustainable trans- Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 formation through sport, contributing to the growth countries will compete in 526 medal events in 22 of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.’ different sports, with Para Canoeing and Para Tri- Rio 2016 is also contributing substantially to athlon will be included in the Games for the first time improving accessibility standards throughout the in 2016, with six medal events in each (three each city. The aim is that all public transportation systems male/female). will be fully accessible and the accessibility standard Of the 4,350 athletes set to take part, approxi- of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is mately 1,650 will be women, which is 43 per cent of being enforced in all new hotels built in the city. all medal events. That’s a 9.9 per cent increase on Brazil has a proud history of Paralympic success London 2012 and more than double the 790 female and locals will be especially interested to follow the athletes who took part in Atlanta 20 years ago. fortunes of Daniel Dias, the nation’s swimming super- As in recent years, the 2016 Summer Paralym- star who has won the country’s most Paralympic pics will share most of its venues with the Olympics. medals. Barra de Tijuca will host most of the sports and the Susana Scharndorf Ribeiro is another Brazilian athletes’ village and the rest of the sports will take swimmer who will draw crowds to the swimming place in the three other designated areas of Copaca- pool and, on the track, Alan Oliveira, who beat Oscar bana Beach, the Maracanã and the Deodoro. Pistorius to win T44 200m gold at London 2012, is The official mascot of the 2016 Paralympic another household name. Games is Tom, named after famous Brazilian musi- Given their love of football the local Paralympic cian Tom Jobim, regarded as the man who invented heroes also include Wanderson Silva de Oliveria and the bossa nova style and the composer of jazz classic ‘Jefinho’, and with Ireland also qualified for the 7-a- ‘The Girl from Ipanema.’ side football, there will certainly be some exciting Mascot Tom represents Brazilian flora and games in store.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 11 WHERE TO GO PARALYMPIC VENUES

PAGE // 12 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 he 2016 Summer Paralympics will share most What is unusual in Rio is that the stadium that T of its venues with the Olympics and they are hosts the opening ceremony – the famous 79,000 based in four regions across the city. capacity Maracanã (known also as the Estadio Mario Barra de Tijuca (‘Barra’) will host many of the Filho), home to Flamengo and Fluminense football events for the Irish team and is also the location for clubs - will not also host athletics. the Athletes’ Village. The track and field programme will take place The other three clusters are Copacabana in the Joao Havelange Stadium which is in the same Beach, Maracanã and Deodoro and, for the Paralym- Maracanã Cluster. This is the 60,000 capacity home pics, road cycling will take place in Pontal, a separate to Botafogo FC and is also known as the Joao Have- venue set up on the Western coastline of the city. lange Stadium and nicknamed ‘Engenhão.’

VENUES FOR MARACANÃ CLUSTER Maracanã Stadium – Opening and closing ceremo- TEAM IRELAND nies 2016 Joao Havelengae Stadium aka ‘Engehão’ – Athletics BARRA CLUSTER COPACABANA CLUSTER Olympic Aquatics Stadium – Swimming Copacabana Beach – Triathlon

Olympic Velodrome – Track cycling Flamengo Park – Road cycling and marathon

Riocentro – Table tennis Marina da Glória (within Flamengo Park) – Sailing Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas – flat-water canoeing & DEODORO CLUSTER rowing National Shooting Centre – Shooting PONTAL Deodoro Arena – 7-a-side Football A temporary facility located on the coast, in Rio’s Western Zone, is the starting and finishing line Markopoulo Equestrian Centre – Dressage for all the Paralympics’ road cycling competitions.

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PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 13 IRISH TEAM FAST FACTS FIRSTS FUN FACTS

Two new sports - canoeing and The youngest member of Team Ireland is triathlon – will make their debut at the Laois teenager Nicole Turner, who was only Paralympics Games this year. 13 when she won three medals at this year’s Cork native Patrick O’Leary will be Ireland’s Para Swimming European Championships. first Paralympic paddler while Catherine She has since turned 14 (on June 14, 2016). Walsh and pilot Francine Meehan will be The second youngest member of the Ireland’s first Paralympians in triathlon. team is Cork discus thrower Noelle Jason Smyth was the first Paralympic athlete Lenihan who is 16, while Sonar skipper, to compete in athletics’ able-bodied European John Twomey (61), is the eldest. (Barcelona 2010) and World Championships Sailing staff member Ben Lynch is the older (Daegu 2011) and he reached the semi- brother of Finn Lynch who made his debut finals in the former and finished fourth. He at the Rio Olympics in August. Finn was is also the current Irish (able-bodied) 100m Ireland’s youngest ever helmsman. champion, a title he has won three times. 28 of this year’s team will be competing at their first Paralympic Games at Rio this year.

PAGE // 14 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 LANDMARKS WORLD AND John Twomey will be Ireland’s most experienced EUROPEAN HIGHS Paralympian in Rio. This will be his 11th consecutive appearance at a Paralympic Games. In Rio, there will be three reigning World Cham- He has competed in every Games since 1976 pions, two of whom – Jason Smyth and Michael and has won two medals – a gold in Discus in McKillop - are also reigning double Paralympic 1988 and a bronze in Discus in 1984. He has champions. been concentrating on sailing since 2000. Jason Smyth is the current T13 World Catherine Walsh is the second most Champion at 100m, which he won at the experienced team member, and will make her 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships seventh Paralympic Games appearance in in Doha last October. He also holds the T13 Rio. She has competed in every Games since world records in 100m (10:46 secs) and 200m 1992 and has won three medals – bronze in (21.05secs). He will race only in the T13 100m athletics (P13 Pentathlon) in Sydney 2000 in Rio as there will be no T13 200m event. and a silver (Track Pursuit) and bronze Michael McKillop is the current T37/38 (Road Race) in London 2012 in cycling, World Champion at 800m & 1500m from with her tandem pilot, Francine Meehan. Doha 2015. He will contest the T37 1500m Irish athletes won 16 medals at the last in Rio as there will be no 800m event in his Paralympics Games in London (six gold, category. He is the world record holder in three silver and five bronze medals). T37 800m (1:57.22) and 1500m (4:08.11). There were double golds for Jason Smyth, Para cyclist Eoghan Clifford is the current Michael McKillop, handcyclist Mark Rohan world champion in the C3 Road Time Trial and (now retired) and one each for swimmers also won gold in the Scratch Race at the 2015 Darragh McDonald (now retired) and World Track Championships where he also won Bethany Firth (now swimming for GB). bronze in the Pursuit. He recently scooped gold Team Ireland won a total of five medals in in the C3 Road Race at the Para Cycling Road Beijing 2008 (three gold, one silver, one World Cup in the Basque Country, Spain. bronze) and four in Athens 2004 (three silver, Noelle Lenihan is the reigning F38 European one bronze), and Paralympics Ireland has Discus champion. She won her title in Italy in set a target of eight medals for Rio 2016. June 2016 with a 32.14m throw, which was also a Dressage rider Helen Kearney won three new world record. She also won a silver medal on medals in London 2012 - silver in individual her debut at World Championships in Doha 2015. championship, bronze in individual freestyle, Orla Barry is the reigning European T57 Discus and bronze in the open team event. champion, which she won in Italy in June 2016 with a throw of 31.18m. She also won bronze at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, but was recently upgraded to silver when Bulgaria’s Stela Eneva received a four-year doping ban.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 15 MEET THEDENIS CHEF TOOMEY

PAGE // 16 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 reland’s Paralympic team for 2016 has an extremely Ireland awards. Toomey was elected to the board I passionate Chef de Mission in Denis Toomey, who of Cycling Ireland in late 2012. A year later he was has been a massive advocate for Paralympic sport, elected President of Cycling Ireland for a two-year especially cycling, in the last 15 years. term and also inducted into their Hall of Fame. On his He has been a member of Cycling Ireland since appointment as Paralympic Ireland’s Chef de Mission the late 1970s, first with Blarney Touring Club and, for 2016 Denis declared himself to be “so proud and subsequently, with Middleton CC. honoured to lead the Irish team.” A native of Blackrock, Co Cork, Denis piloted His job involved taking charge of all the oper- a tandem for blind cyclist Joe Bollard in a coast- ational preparation and planning for the Irish team to-coast challenge across America in 2000, led by and the logistical challenge of having everybody in Sean Kelly. That experience prompted him to found the right place, at the right time, has not been lost Tandem Cycling Ireland of which he is still a member. on him in the build-up to Rio. He was pilot for one of Ireland’s two tandem “The thought of organising it has given me entries when Ireland first participated in the IPC more than a few sleepless nights!” he admitted. “It’s Road World Championships in Germany in 2001, not just people we need to get to Rio but also horses, and, in Athens 2004, he was a tandem pilot for Mark boats and bikes. All have to make the 9,000km Kehoe, a visually impaired rider who was Ireland’s journey safely.” first Paralympic cyclist evder. With a new-look team, Paralympics Ireland has In 2005 Denis became chair of Cycling Ireland’s set firm but practical targets for Rio: eight medals Paracycling commission. In 2008 he was manager and a top 30 finish on the medal table. for the Irish Paracycling team at the Beijing Paralym- “There is definitely potential for eight medals pic Games where Ireland qualified four bikes and had and we could also hopefully see a few surprises,” three top five finishes. Toomey said. “Hopefully we can create a few shocks Alongside coach Brian Nugent, he then spear- along the way!” “I would advise the public that if they headed, Ireland’s successful campaign to qualify a only do one thing this September then it should be record seven bikes for London 2012 and that team tuning into the Paralympic Games,” said Denis. returned with two gold, one silver and two bronze “The way our athletes overcome what to most medals, finishing 10th on the Paralympic cycling of us would be adversity - to compete at an elite level table. He went on to win the “Best Team Member on the world stage - is awesome and mind-blowing.” – Non Athlete” award at the OCS 2012 Paralympics

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 17 ATHLETICS

PAGE // 18 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 he track and field events at the Paralympic T Games attract the largest number of athletes ATHLETICS and spectators. It was one of just eight sports at the first Paralympics in 1960 when there were just 25 INCLUDES: medal events, but this year in Rio, 1,100 athletes will compete in 177 medal events. All athletics events will Track events: sprint (100m, 200m, 400m), take place in the Olympic Stadium, apart from the middle distance (800m, 1500m), long distance marathons which will be at Fort Copacabana. (5,000m) and relay races (4x100m, 4x400m) Events are open to male and female athletes Road event: Marathon (except high jump, which is men only) in all disability Jumping events: Long Jump and High Jump groups, and advances in technology and athletes’ Throwing events: Discus, Shot dedication have made once unimaginable feats Put, Javelin, Club Throw become realities: some compete in wheelchairs, others with prostheses and some athletes with blind- ness/visual impairment compete with the guidance CLASSIFICATION of a sighted companion. Athletes compete accord- ing to their functional classifications in each event In Athletics, athletes from all of the disability and these events are continually being redefined to categories are classified into a number of different include as many athletes as possible. classes: a. Classes 11, 12 and 13 cover the different levels of visual impairment b. Class 20 covers athletes with an intellectual disability c. Classes 32-38 cover athletes with different levels of Cerebral Palsy - both wheelchair (32 - 34) and ambulant (35 - 38) d. Classes 40-46 cover ambulant athletes with different levels of amputations and other disabilities, including Les Autres e. Classes 51-58 cover wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations In Athletics classification, the T before the class number refers to Track and the F before the class number refers to Field.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 19 Orla Barry / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline Discus

Sports Classification F57

Age 25 (21/09/1990)

Hometown Ladysbridge, Cork

Disability Group Amputee

rla took up Athletics at the age of 16 in 2006 Rio by winning bronze (later upgraded to silver) at O and has since represented Ireland at two the 2015 World Championships in Doha and she also Paralympic Games, finishing fifth in Beijing in 2008 secured gold at the recent European Championships and winning bronze at London 2012. In 2013, she in Grosseto, Italy (June 2016), clinching the title with broke the world record for the F57 Discus and won a Personal Best throw of 31.18m on her final throw. a silver medal at the IPC Athletics World Champion- She is coached by Pat Furlong. ships that year. She has shown great form ahead of

Orla Comerford / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 100m

Sports Classification T13

Age 18 (DOB 14/09/1997)

Hometown Howth, Dublin

Disability Group Visually Impaired

aving just completed her Leaving Cert at sprint group there. Her dad, from Carlow, was a H Loreto, St. Stephen’s Green, Orla is hoping to 400m runner and she believes that’s where she got go on to Art College. She runs with Raheny Sham- her speed. This will be her first Paralympic Games rocks, a club best known for producing distance and she cites Jason Smyth and Derval O’Rourke as runners, but her coach Brian Corcoran has a strong her inspiration. She turns 19 during the Games.

PAGE // 20 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Paul Keogan / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 400m

Sports Classification T37

Age 24 (DOB: 29/06/1992)

Hometown Skyrne, Co. Meath

Disability Group Cerebral Palsy

aul, who comes from the GAA heartland of miles in the last year and won three medals at the P Skyrne, played gaelic and soccer with school Cerebral Palsy World Games in Nottingham last year. (St Pat’s Navan) and club until he was 17 when he He has a pharmacy degree from Trinity College but got a knock in a match that caused him to have a has put his career on hold to train full time for his brain haemorrhage. He started para athletics as a Paralympic debut in Rio. 100/200m sprinter but has developed to quarter

Noelle Lenihan / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline Discus

Sports Classification F38

Age 16 (04/11/1999)

Hometown Charleville, Cork

Disability Group Cerebral Palsy

ork schoolgirl Noelle has been named as one silver and set a new world record. She has continued C of IPC’s ‘Athletes to Watch’ for Rio 2016. The that trend by winning gold at this year’s European promise shown by finishing third at the IPC Grand Championships in Italy (June 2016), landing another Prix last year was underlined when she made her world record with her very first throw of 32.14m. She international championship debut at the 2015 IPC is coached by her dad Jim and Dave Sweeney. Athletics World Championships in Doha and won

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 21 Niamh McCarthy / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline Discus

Sports Classification F41

Age 22 (04/01/1994)

Hometown Carrigaline, Cork

Disability Group Les Autres

iamh first emerged onto the para athletics onships in June, where her 27.05m throw won silver N scene in 2013 and has made quick progress in a combined F40/41 competition and also set a since then. The IPC Athletics World Championships new European record for her class. She goes to Rio in Doha last year was her first major championship ranked third in the world in her event. John McCarthy and she won a bronze medal. She started this year is her life-long coach but she moved to Dublin after by setting a new Personal Best of 24.98m in France Christmas to train full-time and is now under the and then smashed that PB at the European Champi- guidance of Dave Sweeney.

Michael McKillop / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 1500m

Sports Classification T37

Age 26 (27/01/1990)

Hometown Newtownabbey, Co Antrim

Disability Group Cerebral Palsy

ichael is a triple Paralympic gold medallist, Michael will compete only in the T37 1500m. He M winning 800m gold in Beijing 2008, fol- brought his tally of golds to four following World lowed by a double gold at London 2012 in the T37 Championships last year and also won double gold 800m and 1500m. He also holds the world records at the 2014 Europeans. He is coached by his father (1:57.17/3:59.53) for both distances, but as the T37 Paddy and is currently living in Jordanstown. 800m is not on the Rio 2016 Paralympic programme,

PAGE // 22 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Patrick Monahan / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 800m and Marathon

Sports Classification T53

Age 30 (DOB 14/01/1986)

Hometown Naas, Kildare

Disability Group Spinal cord injury

nspired by what he saw at London 2012, Patrick Ian Mirkin, he has become even faster. In 2015, he I took up wheelchair racing in 2013 and has proven successfully defended his Dublin marathon title and, to be a natural. His marathon debut that same year in a series of three city marathons in four weeks, earned him third place in the Dublin marathon in knocked seven minutes off the Irish record which he 2:38.54 and, since hooking up with British coach now holds at 1:29:44.

Deirdre Mongan / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline Shot Put

Sports Classification F53/54

Age 38 (DOB 03/04/1978)

Originally Milltown (Galway), now living in Newcas- Hometown tle (Down)

Disability Group Spinal cord injury

eirdre, who combines training with mother- year’s European Championships in June, where her D hood, has shown excellent and timely form best throw of 4:23m (just 3cm off her lifetime best) ahead of Rio after having her daughter in 2014. secured bronze and just narrowly missed a silver She secured a bronze medal at the 2015 IPC World medal. She is coached by National Throws coach Championships in Doha with a best throw of 4.02m Dave Sweeney and is a research officer with the and was the first Irish athlete to win a medal at this Health Research Board in Dublin.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 23 Jason Smyth / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 100m

Sports Classification T13

Age 29 (04/07/1987)

Hometown Eglinton, Co Derry

Disability Group Visually Impaired

ason won gold in the T13 100m and 200m at his T13 100m crown at this year’s Games. His 100m J both the Beijing and London Paralympic Games Personal Best time of 10.22, is the second fastest and is the world record holder (10.46/21.05) in each. time ever ran by an Irishman and Smyth was also In 2014, he won double gold at the Para-Athletics crowned the ‘Fastest Paralympian On The Planet’ European Championships in Wales and, despite when he won at the Rio ‘One Year to Go’ celebration some injury problems, returned to win the T13 100m event in 2015. He is coached by Clarence Callender title at the 2015 World Championships in Doha. As (Lee Valley AC) and, after two and a half years in the T13 200m is no longer on the Paralympic pro- London, moved back to Northern Ireland in May 2016 gramme for Rio 2016, Jason will only be defending with his wife Elise and baby daughter Evie.

Greta Streimikyte / Athletics

Paralympic Discipline 1500m

Sports Classification T13

Age 20 (24/08/1995)

Hometown Swords

Disability Group Visual impairment

reta, who is one of a triplet, moved to Ireland knocked six seconds off her Personal Best (4:50.58) G from Lithuania five years ago and became an at the AAI Games in Dublin in May and, on her inter- Irish citizen last December. She has retinopathy but national debut at Europeans in June, won bronze in a has some vision in her left eye. She discovered her time of 4:54.25 and later improved on this time at the talent through running with Clonliffe Harriers and AAI National Championships with a PB of 4:48.85. DCU, where she studies International Relations. She Coached by Enda Fitzpatrick.

PAGE // 24 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 James Nolan Dave Sweeney

Role Team Leader Role Throws Coach

Eimear O’Brien Michael Bergin

Role Coach/Chaperone Role Coach

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 25 CANOEING ara Canoeing is a relatively new but fast-grow- P ing sport which was first introduced at the CLASSIFICATION canoeing World Championships in Poland in 2010. Rio will mark the sport’s Paralympic debut. There will be three functional classes in canoe- In competitive canoeing there are two types of ing for both men and women, with six medal events boat – canoes and kayaks. In canoeing (identified in total. The higher the classification score, the by the letter C for competition purposes) paddlers greater the paddler’s function potential. either kneel on the bottom of the boat or sit on a raised platform and the deck is usually open. In kay- KL1 - competitors have limited or no trunk function aking (identified by the letter K), in which Ireland and no leg balance. They apply force predominantly is competing, paddlers are always sitting. There are using the arms and/or shoulders. also two different types of competitions; flatwater or slalom. Flatwater events range in distance from KL2 - competitors have partial leg and trunk func- 200m to 1000m while slalom involves racing a tion alongside good arm strength. Their limb loss course through rapids (white water) while manoeu- deficiency can be equivalent to double above-leg vring through a series of overhanging gates. amputation. The first ever Paralympic canoeing competition will only be in kayaks, propelled by a double-blade KL3 - competitors have trunk function and partial paddle, and only on flat water. All races will be 200m leg function. They sit in a forward flexed position and flat sprints and will take place at the Lagoa Stadium. use a footboard or the seat to help propel the boat.

PAGE // 26 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Patrick O’Leary / Canoeing

Paralympic Discipline Canoeing

Sports Classification KL3

Age 43 (DOB 17/10/1972)

Hometown Cork, now living in Moycullen, Galway.

Disability Group Amputee

lecturer in organic chemistry at NUI Galway, A finals at World and European Championships six A Pat is Ireland’s first ever paddler in the times. He also finished fourth in the World Cup last Paralympic Games as the sport is one of two new year and gained a bronze medal in the test event additions in 2016. He has previously represented on the Rio course in 2015. He secured Ireland’s first Ireland at canoe-polo and only took up Para Canoe- ever canoeing Paralympic spot by winning the B ing after he had to have his leg amputated for final at this year’s World Championships in Duisburg, medical reasons five years ago. Coached by former Germany in May. He is married to Jude and has two Irish international Neil Fleming, Pat finished fourth sons. at the 2015 European Championships and has made

Neil Fleming

Role Team Leader

#MORETHANSPORT

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 27 CYCLING

ycling for athletes with impairments originated celona. In addition to traditional bikes, para cyclists C in the early 1980s. Road competitions were can compete using tricycles (for those with cerebral introduced in the New York/Stoke Mandeville 1984 palsy or balance issues), hand bikes (usually for Paralympic Games programme for competitors with paraplegic or tetraplegic athletes) or tandems (for cerebral palsy. Four years later, in Seoul, cyclists with visually impaired cyclists who are accompanied by a other types of disabilities – amputees/les autres - pilot who sits in front and guides direction). were included, and visually impaired cyclists made Ireland’s Paralympic cyclists will compete on their Paralympic debut at the 1992 Games in Bar- the track and on the road.

PAGE // 28 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 TRACK ROAD

There are six different events in track cycling INDIVIDUAL ROAD RACES in the velodrome at the Barra Olympic Park. Distance events (men and women) held on Irish athletes will be involved in the following. public roads, for riders using bicycles, tricycles, tandems and hand bikes. Pontal, the temporary facil- KILOMETRE TIME TRIAL: ity located on the coast, in Rio’s Western Zone, is the For bicycles and tandems, both men and women. starting and finishing line for Rio’s road cycling races. Athletes compete against the Races have a bunched start and the first athlete clock, from a standing start. to complete the course distance is declared the Bicycles are held by a mechanical starting gate winner. and tandems are hand held by a start judge All races begin with a neutralized rolling Each event winner is either the rider with the start of at least 200m to enable all the best time or, in events with mixed disability athletes to get safely and fairly underway. groups, the rider with the best time when Circuits are usually seven to 10 kilometre per lap. compared to a time standard for his or her class. INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL: INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT: Against the clock (men and women) for For bicycles and tandems, both men and bicycles, tricycles, tandems and hand women. There are two distances; 3,000m or bikes. Competitors start at 60-second intervals 4,000m, which are open to different classes. and the rider who records the fastest time Two bicycles or two tandems start for the distance is declared the winner. on diametrically opposite sides of the Race distances vary according to track. The bikes are held by a starting athlete classification and races are gate and tandems are hand-held. seeded (fastest riders start last). During the race, each bicycle or tandem tries to catch the other, or to record the fastest time for the full race distance. Pursuit racing has an opening round which is a qualifying round to select the four fastest bicycles or tandems, on the basis of their times and those eight qualifiers are seeded for the second and final rounds. The two fastest winning times of the second round ride for gold and silver medals, while the other two ride for the bronze medal and fourth place.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 29 CLASSIFICATION

T 1-2 - Denotes athletes who cannot ride a bicycle B - Denotes athletes with a visual impairment, riding due to balance issues and compete on a tricycle. in a tandem pair. A sighted pilot steers the cycle from There are two categories (T1 and T2) depending on the front and the visually impaired rider (known the level of disability. as the stoker) competes at the rear. A former pro cyclist cannot have competed in UCI tour event for C 1-5 - Denotes athletes riding a bicycle who have 24 months in order to be a pilot. lost a limb or lost significant use of a limb. They can compete with prosthetic limbs. C1 cyclists have H 1-4 – Denotes athletes without use of their lower most severe neurological dysfunction but less lower limbs (usually wheelchair users) who use a hand bike. limb disability. C2 have a disability in one leg but There are four functional classes within hand cycling. can pedal with both (including prostheses) while C3 H1-4 athletes compete in a lying position whereas H5 riders usually pedal with one leg. compete in a kneeling position.

Eoghan Clifford / Cycling Road – Road Race & Time Trial. Track – Individual Paralympic Discipline Pursuit.

Sports Classification C3

Age 35 (DOB 26/08/1980)

Hometown Galway Bay.

Disability Group Charcot-Marie-Tooth

oghan, an engineering lecturer in NUIG who won bronze again in the Pursuit at the World Track E has a degenerative muscle disease, also races Championships where he was also fourth in the at national level in able-bodied events. He joined Scratch Race. In May, he won the Time Trial and silver Paralympic sport two years ago and, on his UCI Road in the Road Race at the prestigious road World Cup World Championships debut in 2014, won the men’s in Ostend, before winning another gold at the UCI C3 Road Race. In 2015, he won two World Cham- Para Cycling Road World Cup in the Basque Country, pionships titles and a bronze medal. This year, he Spain in July.

PAGE // 30 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Colin Lynch / Cycling Road – Road Race & Time Trial. Track – Individual Paralympic Discipline Pursuit

Sports Classification C2

Age 45 (DOB 16/12/70)

Hometown Marple Bridge, UK

Disability Group Amputee

olin missed out a track medal in London 2012 discovered a passion and talent for it, winning his C by just one tenth of a second and also finished first world title (Time Trial) in 2011. In 2014, he took fifth in the road Time Trial. His dad is from Drogheda silver (Pursuit) at the World Track Championships and while he grew up in Canada, he moved to the UK and, a year later, was fourth in the same event. In in 2005. When he was 16, he broke his leg playing 2015, he also won two golds in Time Trials on the UCI rugby and it was then that doctors discovered a World Cup circuit. This year he won another medal tumour on his spinal cord - subsequent complica- at the World Track Championships - silver in the 3km tions meant a below-the-knee amputation. He ini- Pursuit – and, since May, has had several podium fin- tially took up cycling in 2008 to get in shape but ishes at major World Cup races.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 31 Katie-George Dunlevy / Tandem Cycling (stoker) Road – Road Race & Time Trial. Track – Pursuit and Paralympic Discipline B Kilo

Sports Classification WB Tandem

Age 34 (DOB 26/11/1981)

Hometown Crawley, UK

Disability Group Visual Impairment

atie-George has been concentrating on cycling alent in Switzerland on a photo-finish. Winning two K since 2011. She took several fifth places at golds at the World Cup in Ostend in May - in both London 2012 and, since then, has really clicked with the Road Race and Time Trial - ranked them second her new tandem partner Eve McCrystal. They were in the world on the road. They’re also ranked highly just pipped for gold at the Road Race at the 2014 on the track after finishing 4th in the 3km Pursuit World Road Championships. In 2015 they won a at this year’s World Championships, and had more bronze (Pursuit) at the World Track Championships podium finishes at the UCI Para Cycling Road World and just missed out on a bronze at the road equiv- Cup in July.

Eve McCrystal / Cycling pilot

Paralympic Discipline Road Race & Time Trial. Track: Pursuit and B Kilo

Sports Classification WB Tandem pilot

Age 37 (DOB 28/07/1978)

Hometown Dundalk, Co Louth

multi-tasking mother of two, Eve is an McCrystal has taken temporary leave from her job A able-bodied ex-triathlete who competed in as a Garda to pursue Paralympic glory. Double gold Ironmans before being asked to pilot Katie-George in this year’s World Cup in Ostend in May indicates Dunlevy in late 2013 after doing a talent ID trial. this tandem pair is in great form ahead of Rio.

PAGE // 32 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Damien Vereker / Tandem Cycling (stoker) Road – Road Race & Time Trial. Track – Pursuit & Paralympic Discipline B Kilo

Sports Classification Tandem B

Age 36 (DOB: 4/06/1980)

Hometown Originally from Kilkenny but now living in Waterford

Disability Group Visual impairment

amien has risen from a leisure rider with he won gold in the Road Race and silver in the Time D Comeragh CC to an international in just three Trial at a World Cup event in South Africa. In Decem- years. His coach, Martin Kirwan, was his original pilot, ber 2015, he cycled from Malin Head to Waterford in while Tipperary man Sean Hahessy will be his pilot 13 hours, through snow and ice, to raise funds for his for Rio. He had his best result in May this year when bike which costs upwards of €9,000.

Seán Hahessy / Cycling pilot Road – Road Race & Time Trial. Track – Pursuit & Paralympic Discipline B Kilo

Age 21 (DOB: 03/06/95)

Hometown Carrick-on-Suir

eán, from Carrick Wheelers, was drafted in as U23s and he holds the Munster Time Trial record. S a tandem pilot this year and is a very talented He studied Sports Coaching and Performance at road racer who has already raced for Ireland in Waterford Institute of Technology and is a certified able-bodied cycling. He has won national medals at Cycling Ireland Level 1 coach. youth, junior and U23 levels, including bronze at Irish

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 33 Ciara Staunton / Cycling

Paralympic Discipline Handcycling Time Trial & Road Race

Sports Classification H2

Age 31 (DOB: 31/12/1985)

Hometown Baltinglass, Co Wicklow

Disability Group Spinal injury

iara, who is quadriplegic since a car accident Club and trains on the roads in that area. She has C 10 years ago, has previously starred for the topped the World Series table this year after winning Irish Wheelchair rugby team and is now excelling at two Road Race silvers at World Cups in Ostend and hand cycling. She is a member of Kilcullen Cycling South Africa in May and finished ranked second.

Declan Slevin / Cycling

Paralympic Discipline Handcycling Time Trial & Road Race

Sports Classification H3

Age 47 (DOB: 22/01/69)

Hometown Kilcatherine, Moate

Disability Group Spinal injury

father of three from Westmeath, Declan is a ago. He started this season with a ninth place in Abu A carpenter who sustained a spinal injury in an Dhabi (Road) and took a bronze (Road) and fifth accident in 2004. His initial para-sport was basket- (Time Trial) at a World Cup in South Africa in May ball (he still plays regularly) but, inspired by local to leave him ranked fourth in the world in H3 road man Mark Rohan, he took up handcycling four years racing.

PAGE // 34 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Tommy McGowan Neil Delahaye

Role Team Leader Role Coach

Gerry Beggs Eoin Murphy

Role Mechanic Role Mechanic

Phelim Lynch

Role Sport Support Staff

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 35 EQUESTRIAN en and women compete together in equestrian medium walk” which means starting at H, passing on M sport which became part of the Paralympic to E and to K while the horse demonstrates medium Games in Atlanta 1996. Dressage, often described as walk. ‘ballet on horseback’, is the only Paralympic eques- Some Paralympic riders use ‘compensatory trian discipline, with 78 riders contesting 10 individ- aids’. People with reduced leg strength might use ual events and one team competition.There are two one or two riding crops, while visually impaired different tests in dressage: Team and Championship riders can have ‘callers’, who call out letters to help tests (made up of prescribed, set movements) and them navigate the arena. Freestyle tests (also known as a Kur), where riders choose their own moves and match it to music to show the horse’s natural pace, and the harmony CLASSIFICATION between horse and rider. Competitions are held in an arena measuring 40 metres x 20 metres and the Athletes are divided into five categories (I to V) equestrian venue in Rio is in the Deodoro sector, in which determine the complexity of movements that the northwest of the city. horses/riders perform. The lower the class number, Markers, in the form of a letter are placed at the greater the impairment. Riders may use assistive set locations around the arena. The test movements devices such as dressage crops, connecting rein bars are defined by letter sequences, for example “HEK etc.

PAGE // 36 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Grade Ia and Ib - Mainly wheelchair users, Grade III - Typically athletes who can walk athletes with little torso balance and/or without assistance, with moderate unilateral impairments in all four limbs, or no torso impairment or moderate impairment in all four balance and good upper limb functions limbs, and severe arm impairments. They may Grade II - Mainly wheelchair users or people require a wheelchair for longer distances. Also with high degree of motor impairment in the includes full or severe visual impairment torso but with good upper limb functions. Grade IV - Athletes with impairments in one This can include athletes with a high degree of or two limbs or some visual impairment. impairment in the arm and slight impairment in the leg or severe unilateral impairment

Helen Kearney / Equestrian Dressage – Team test, Championship test, Freestyle Paralympic Discipline test

Sports Classification Grade Ia

Age 27 (DOB 06/06/1989)

Hometown Dunlavin, Co Wicklow

Disability Group Friedreich’s Ataxia (neuromuscular disorder)

elen’s para equestrian journey began in 2008, her 2012 horse – Mister Cool, or ‘Charlie’ as she called H when she started riding at Grade III. She was him – to injury in 2015. Her new partner is Rock n Roll reclassified in 2010 to Ia and, in 2011, won Ireland’s 2, a 12-year-old gelding. Helen got 2016 off to a good first European para equestrian medal – a bronze. start by finishing third in the team event at the first On her Paralympic debut at London 2012, she had Para Dressage Nations Cup in France and repeated unheralded success; a silver and bronze in her indi- that in Hartpury in July. vidual events and also a team bronze. Sadly she lost

David Redmond Lydia Bagge

Role Team Leader Role Groom

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 37 FOOTBALL PAGE // 38 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 ooooal! As Brazil is the ‘home of football’ G there’s no doubt that this sport will be a SEVEN-A- massive draw in Rio! There are two types of football in the Paralym- SIDE RULES pic Games. Five-a-side is for visually impaired players who must wear eye shades and use a ball that makes There are only seven players on the pitch at any a sound that the players can follow. one time, in addition to seven on the bench. Meanwhile, seven-a-side is for athletes with There is no offside rule. Cerebral Palsy. It has been on the Paralympic pro- Throw-ins can be completed with one gramme since 1984 but, as of now, this is its final year hand, including rolling the ball into play. on the schedule. Ireland are one of eight teams in the Matches last 60 minutes, with a seven-a-side competition, which includes defending 15-minute half-time interval. champions Russia. Barry Ferguson’s boys in green The pitch (75m x 55m compared to are in a tough group with Brazil, Great Britain and 120m x 90m, maximum) and goal posts Ukraine and all games will take place at the Deodoro (5m x 2m compared to 7.32m x 2.44m) Stadium. are smaller than the 11-a-side game. If the semi-finals or the final finish level, two 10-minute periods of extra-time will be played. If nobody wins in extra-time, the matches will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. CLASSIFICATION

In seven-a-side CP football, players are ranked according to their degree of physical impairment. The scale ranges from 5 to 8. The lower the class, the greater the limitation. Each team must have at least one class 5 or 6 athlete, and no more than one class 8 athlete on the pitch.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 39 Luke Evans Tomiwa Badun / Football / Football 26 19 Age Age (DOB 19/01/1990) (DOB 04/05/1997)

Hometown Artane, Dublin Hometown Dundalk, Louth

eam captain Luke (usually right back), is originally from om is a striker who has already got over 10 caps and a T Artane but plays with Glebe North in Balbriggan. He has T couple of goals for his country. He is studying Sports, over 50 caps and has scored more than 20 goals to date, Recreation and Exercise at Drogheda Institute of Further Edu- including the vital one against Argentina last year that secured cation and has ambitions to study further in America and play Ireland’s spot in Rio. He is a commercial project controller college football over there. with Siemens.

Cormac Birt Peter Cotter / Football / Football 20 20 Age Age (DOB 17/05/1996) (DOB 21/02/96) Toomebridge, Hometown Hometown Douglas, Co. Cork Antrim

idfielder Cormac will be making his Ireland debut in Rio. nother of the many talented players on the Irish 7-a-side M He plays his club football with Realta na Cromoige and A squad, Peter made his international debut at the age of is an accountancy student. Outside of sport, his friends and 16 and is looking forward to representing his country in Rio. family are most important to him. He was part of the successful squad who represented Ireland at the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football pre-Paralympic tournament in Salou, Spain. He is currently in college in CIT where he is studying Recreation and Leisure Management.

PAGE // 40 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Joseph Markey Gary Messett / Football / Football 29 28 Age Age (DOB 27/05/1987) (DOB 01/09/87) Clontibret, Hometown Hometown Bray, Wicklow Monaghan

ice-captain and left-back, Joe is Ireland’s most-capped entral midfielder Gary is another team stalwart with V player, with close to 70 caps and nearly 20 goals for C close to 70 caps so far. He plays his club football with his country. He plays with TEK United and is a credit analyst St Fergal’s AFC and is Ireland’s top goal scorer. He’s currently at Bank of Ireland. Apart from sport, he’s also interested in studying Soccer and Gym Instruction and also works in Tesco. languages and is currently learning Spanish.

Brian McGillivary Carl McKee / Football / Football 27 18 Age Age (DOB 14/10/1988) (DOB 08/04/98)

Hometown Firhouse, Dublin Hometown Swords, Dublin

oalkeeper Brian has close to 40 caps and plays his club efender Carl, whose favourite position is right back, is G football with Firhouse Clover. He works as a stock oper- D another of the team’s rising teenagers. He plays his club ations manager and is particularly interested in nutrition and football with Swords Manor and has just completed his Leaving cooking. Cert. He hopes to study Sports Management and Coaching.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 41 Ryan Nolan Eric O’Flaherty / Football / Football 24 21 Age Age (DOB 10/03/1992) (DOB 28/12/1994)

Hometown Bray, Wicklow Hometown Mervue, Galway

entre-forward/striker, Ryan is one of the squad’s two ric, the team’s sole Connacht representative, usually C players from Bray and St Fergal’s AFC. He already has a E plays midfield. He trains with his local club West United dozen caps and several goals for Ireland. He works in Aldi and and, outside of football, has a passion for training greyhounds. is currently learning sign language.

Dillon Sheridan Aaron Tier / Football / Football 21 Age 19 (05/02/97) Age (DOB 18/01/1995) Ballyfermot, Hometown Dublin Hometown Limerick

idfield/striker Dillon has already scored many goals for triker Aaron plays his club football with Limerick Star M Ireland – scoring eight of them (including two hat-tricks) S Rovers and since completing a Level 6 course in Sports at the pre-Paralympic tournament in Salou in May where he Development and Coaching at Limerick IT, is now studying was also named the tournament’s top scorer. He plays with Business Studies and Sports Management. He has ambitions Ballyfermot FC, is a sales assistant in Schuh shoe shop and to travel and work abroad in the future. hopes to become a football coach.

PAGE // 42 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Conor Tuite Ryan Walker / Football / Football 19 19 Age Age (DOB 26/06/1997) (DOB 13/12/96)

Hometown Drogheda, Louth Hometown Glennane, Armagh

eenager Conor plays his club football with Boyne Harps idfielder Ryan is another player making his Ireland T and is one of six teenagers in the team. He is currently M debut in Rio. He’s a student who is very interested in studying Sport, Recreation and Exercise at Drogheda Institute strength and conditioning and is hoping to qualify as a per- of Further Education. sonal trainer in the future.

Barry Ferguson Bobby Moore

Role Team Leader Role Sport Support Staff

JJ Glynn Gary McCormack

Role Coach Role Goalkeeping Coach

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 43 SAILING PAGE // 44 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 ailing is a relatively recent Paralympic sport. S It was a demonstration sport for the Atlanta BOAT CLASSES Paralympics (1996) and became a full medal sport at the 2000 Games in Sydney. 2.4mR – single person keel boats, manned by At this year’s Games in Rio, It will take place in sailors who may have a minimal impairment the Marina da Glória, located at Parque do Flamengo, SKUD-18 – two-person keel boats, designed a site with breathtaking scenery. for athletes with a severe disability. All Paralympic sailing events are mixed. Men One of the crew must be a woman and women compete together and there are just Sonar – three-person keel boats whose crew three boat classes. must encompass a range of impairments. Designed for athletes with a visual or physical Each person gets a score ranging from 1 to 7 impairment, Paralympic sailing uses a functional based on their degree of impairment and all classification system to grade sailors depending three cannot add up to more than 14 points. on the degree of their impairment and takes into The boat specifications are exactly the same, account things like body stability, hand functionality but additional adaptations are allowed to be and field of vision and visual acuity. fitted to aid Paralympic crews who are not There are slight modifications in equipment in allowed to hike or use a spinnaker. Ireland order to suit the athlete’s functional ability. All the will compete in the Sonar class at Rio 2016. boat classes have keels, mainly because this design provides greater stability. These keelboats have open cockpits to allow more room for the sailors to CLASSIFICATION manoeuvre in. The format for all classes is fleet racing (all A scoring system that assigns points based on boats race the course at the same time), with points level of ability allows athletes from different disability accumulated over a series of 11 races (weather per- groups to compete together in this Paralympic sport. mitting). The Classification Committee evaluates athletes and awards them points for classification purposes, based on their functional abilities. These range from one to seven. One is for the lowest level of functionality and seven is for the highest. To ensure the participation of athletes from all classes of disability, there is a maximum point count (14) for the three-person crews. This enables sailors with a more severe physical disability to take part in Paralympic sailing.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 45 John Twomey / Sailing

Paralympic Discipline 3-person keelboat (Sonar)

Age 61

Hometown Ballinhassig Co Cork now living outside Kinsale

Disability Group Spinal injury

io will be very special for Sonar skipper and in 1976 came in Discus. He won two throws medals R Irish flagbearer John Twomey. Not only is the (bronze in ’84, gold in ’88) before concentrating on retired Cork accountant setting an Irish Paralympic sailing since 2000 and he skippered Ireland’s Sonar record by competing in his 11th consecutive Games, team to 11th place at London 2012, with several top 10 but this year’s Games will be his last. A promising finishes, including a second place finish in race seven. cyclist who suffered severe spinal injuries during The boat’s most recent achievement was 9th at the a bike race when he was 14, his Paralympic debut Para Sailing World Championships in Holland in May.

Ian Costelloe / Sailing

Paralympic Discipline 3-person keelboat (Sonar)

Age 27

Hometown Killorglin, Co. Kerry

Disability Group Amputee

io is Ian’s second Games as he was part of sailing career. He’s passionate about Kerry GAA and R the Sonar crew - with Twomey and Anthony his home club of Laune Rangers and works in Jack’s Hegarty – who finished 11th in 2012. He was part of Bar and Restaurant in Cromane. He cites winning the crew who secured their spot by finishing fifth at a bronze medal at the World Cup in Weymouth & a World Cup in Melbourne last December. Ian is a Portland last June as his career highlight to date. Kerry man who moved to Kinsale YC to further his

PAGE // 46 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Austin O’Carroll / Sailing

Paralympic Discipline 3-person keelboat (Sonar)

Age 54

Hometown Dublin

Disability Group Short stature

ustin first tried sailing in 1983 at Bere Island those affected by Thalidomide. He sails with Sutton A where he was introduced to the sport by Dinghy Club and has two daughters. He is also a keen Glenans Sailing Club and has been competing for cyclist and Dublin football star Rory O’Carroll is his Ireland since 2013. He works full time as a doctor (GP) nephew. Rio 2016 is his Paralympic debut. in Dublin city centre and campaigns passionately for

Ben Lynch

Role Team Leader

#MORETHANSPORT

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 47 SHOOTING

supreme test of accuracy and control, shoot- The target is comprised of 10 concentric scoring A ing made its Paralympic debut at the Toronto rings with each ring graded from one to 10 points 1976 Games and Ireland first took part in London and the centre (bullseye) yields maximum points. In 2012. Of the 12 Paralympic shooting events, there the final, the rings are subdivided into more scoring are separate events for men and women but six are zones with 10.9 the maximum possible score. open to both genders. Each competition consists of a qualification Shooting is divided into two major events - Air round and a final. Qualification scores are carried Rifle and Pistol competitions - at three different dis- over into the final. The seven-range shooting venue tances (10m, 25m and 50m). The rules depend on the in Rio, at the Deodora Olympic Park, has been gun, the distance, the target, the shooting position, upgraded after being built for the 2007 Pan Amer- the number of shots and the time limit. Competitors ican Games. accumulate points for the value of their shots.

PAGE // 48 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 CLASSIFICATION

Shooting uses a functional classification system SH2: For athletes who use a shooting stand to which allows athletes with varying levels of disability support their arm. to compete against each other. Athletes with differ- SH2-A: Have one functional upper limb or ent disabilities compete together in two classes (SH1 significant difficulties in both upper limbs with and SH2) which have further subclasses: normal trunk control. May choose to stand or sit to shoot and do not use a backrest. SH1: For athletes who can support the weight of their SH2-B: Sitting competitors who have firearm themselves. limited function in their lower limbs SH1-A: Have normal trunk function, with good pelvis control. May use a low may choose to stand or sit, do not use backrest on the shooting chair. a backrest on their shooting chair. SH2-C: Very limited function in the lower SH1-B: Have limited function of lower limbs, limbs, and difficulties with maintaining trunk may use a low backrest on the shooting chair. position without support. These competitors SH1-C: Very limited function of lower may use a high backrest on the shooting chair. limbs and have difficulty in maintaining trunk position without support, may use a high backrest on the shooting chair.

Seán Baldwin / Shooting 10m Air Rifle Standing (R1), 10m Air Rifle Prone (R3), Paralympic Discipline 50m Free Rifle Prone (R6) and 50m Rifle 3 x40 (R7)

Sports Classification SH1A

Age 48 (DOB 29/10/1967)

Hometown Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Disability Group Amputee

eán is a member of the Irish Defence Forces where he scored a Personal Best in 50m rifle prone. S and has served on peacekeeping duty across He clinched his place in Rio by finishing 8th in the the globe, including Liberia in 2003 where he lost his 3-positions competition (kneeling/prone/standing) leg in a car accident. He has competed in multiple at a World Cup in Croatia last July. He kicked off 2016 Military Games at World and European level and by finishing 12th in the 3-positions (3x40m) at the competes in both able-bodied and para-shooting. UAE World Cup in January where he was also 18th He was Ireland’s first Paralympic shooter in 2012 in the 50m Prone competition.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 49 Phillip Eaglesham / Shooting

Paralympic Discipline 10m Rifle Standing (R4) and 10m Rifle prone (R5)

Sports Classification SH2B

Age 34 (DOB 26/10/1981)

Dungannon, Tyrone, now living in Taunton, Somer- Hometown set

Disability Group Impaired muscle power

hilip is a father of three who contracted chronic secured a new Personal Best in the 10m Standing P Q Fever on tour in Afghanistan in 2011. The competition but it was his performances at the ex-Royal Marine competed at his first IPC Shooting World Cup in Thailand, in March, that secured his World Cup in 2015 at Fort Benning, USA. He com- Rio qualification, finishing 12th in 10m Air Rifle Prone peted in the IPC Shooting World Cup in the United and 14th in 10m Air Rifle Standing. Arab Emirates at the beginning of 2016, where he

Raymond Kane Ryan Morris

Role Team Leader Role Sport Support Staff

PAGE // 50 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 51 SWIMMING

ince the first Paralympic Games in Rome in the help of an assistant, depending on their level of S 1960, swimming has been one of the Paralym- impairment. Swimming is the only Paralympic sport pics’ biggest sports. That trend looks set to continue to prohibit prostheses during competition in Rio this year, not least because swimmer Daniel Visually impaired swimmers rely on the help of Dias is Brazil’s most medalled Paralympian, having a tapper; an assistant who uses a pole fitted with already won 10 gold medals (six in 2012) plus four a cushioned end to let them know when they are silvers and one bronze. near the edges of the pool. Tappers are required for There will be 151 medal events in swimming S11 classes and are optional for the S12 and S13. All at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, located at Barra visually impaired swimmers must wear black goggles Olympic Park. Paralympic swimmers can start from to prevent anyone gaining an advantage. the block (including sitting), from the water, or with

PAGE // 52 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 CLASSIFICATION

In para swimming, athletes with different Categories 1-10 cover athletes impairments noticeably compete against each other. with physical impairments. This is because classes are allocated based on the Athletes with a visual impairment impact the impairment has on their swimming, not compete in classes 11-13. the impairment itself. Athletes with an intellectual The different demands of different strokes, and impairment compete in class 14. how athletes are assessed in the water, is why swim- Distances range from 50m to 400m and several mers can be allocated different classes for different prefixes are used to denote the strokes. strokes eg Ireland’s Ellen Keane (S9/SB8). ‘S’ represents Freestyle, Backstroke and Butter- Classification is based on several factors includ- fly events, ‘SB’ denotes Breaststroke and ‘SM’ refers ing muscle strength, movement co-ordination, joint to Individual Medley events. There are 10 classes range of movement and/or limb length. (S1-S10) in Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly, 10 Once assessed on their functional ability to classes (SM1-SM10) for Individual Medley and nine perform a stroke, athletes are then classified. The classes (SB1-SB9) in Breaststroke. lower the number the greater the disability.

Ellen Keane / Swimming S9 100m Backstroke, S9 100m Butterfly, SB8 100m Paralympic Discipline Breaststroke and SM9 200m Individual Medley

Sports Classification S9/SB8

Age 21 (DOB 06/04/1995)

Hometown Clontarf, Dublin

Disability Group Amputee

t the age of just 21, Ellen is already a two-time world bronze medallist (2013 and 2015) and is an all- A Paralympian. She made her debut at Beijing rounder whose best events are 100m Breaststroke, 2008 aged just 13 where she finished sixth in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) and 100m Butterfly. She 100m Breaststroke final. She reached three more combines six days a-week training at the National finals at London 2012, with fifth in the 100m Butter- Aquatic Centre (NAC) in Abbotstown, with studying fly her best result. She has since been a three-time Culinary Entrepreneurship at DIT

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 53 Ailbhe Kelly / Swimming S8 100m Backstroke, S8 100m Freestyle, S8 400m Paralympic Discipline Freestyle

Sports Classification S8

Age 17 (DOB 18/09/1998)

Hometown Castleknock, Dublin

Disability Group Arthrogryposis

ilbhe trains with the National Aquatic Centre at the IPC World Championships in Glasgow, she A (NAC) Swim Club along with Irish team mates finished eighth in the S8 100m Backstroke final in Ellen and James. She made her international debut at a new Personal Best time and also achieved the Rio the 2014 European Para-Swimming Championships qualifying standard in the 400m Freestyle. Ailbhe in Eindhoven where she swam an impressive three has since reached four finals and set five new PBs at Personal Bests in the 100m Backstroke (twice), and this year’s European Para-Swimming Open Champi- the 400m Freestyle, finishing fifth in each. In 2015, onships in Portugal in May.

James Scully / Swimming

Paralympic Discipline S5 50m/100/200m Freestyle

Sports Classification S5

Age 23 (DOB 08/04/1993)

Hometown Ratoath, Meath

Disability Group Les Autres

ames began his swimming career in 2006 Championships in the past and medalled – bronze in J under the guidance of triple Paralympic med- 200m Freestyle - at the 2013 IPC Worlds in Montreal. allist Dave Malone. He had a great first Paralympics He has since won two bronze medals (both Free- at London 2012, finishing a close fifth in the 200m style) at the 2014 Europeans in Eindhoven. James Freestyle where he swam a Personal Best time of trains full time and has a degree in politics from NUI 2:53.03. He has come fourth at World and European Maynooth.

PAGE // 54 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Nicole Turner / Swimming S6 50m/100m/400m Freestyle, SB6 100m Breast- Paralympic Discipline stroke, SM6 200m Individual Medley, S6 50m But- terfly

Sports Classification S6

Age 14 (DOB 14/06/2002)

Hometown Portarlington, Laois

Disability Group Hypocondroplasia

icole, who only turned 14 earlier this year, times. The Laois Marlins’ swimmer showed early N caused a sensation at the Para Swimming promise in 2015 by winning a silver medal in the European Open Championships in May by reaching Youth category of the British Internationals on her six finals and winning three medals. She won silver senior international debut and went on to reach six in the 200m IM and 100m Breaststroke and a bronze finals and swim PBs in each at the 2015 World Cham- in the 50m Butterfly and also set nine Personal Best pionships in Glasgow.

Hayley Burke Ciara Sinnott O’Connor Physiologist/ Role Team Leader Role Chaperone

Jim Laverty

Role Coach

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 55 TABLE TENNIS art of the Paralympic Games since Rome 1960, and are played in a best-of-five format. In the case of P table tennis brings together wicked spin and a tie, the winner is the first to score a two-point dif- incredible reflexes with power and pace. There are ference. For every class of male and female players 29 medal events in table tennis and it is one of the there are singles, doubles and team matches. largest competitions on the Paralympic programme with nearly 300 athletes taking part. In Rio it will take place in the Riocentro centre, near Barra Olympic CLASSIFICATION Park. Athletes from all physical impairment groups, Athletes are divided into 11 classes, depending on aside from the visually impaired, compete in stand- the skills required and their functional ability, and ing or sitting classes and there is also a category for the lower the number the greater the impairment. intellectually impaired athletes. Classification examines an athlete’s range of move- The rules and dynamics of Paralympic table ment, muscle strength, locomotive restrictions, tennis are similar to those of the able-bodied game balance in the wheelchair and ability to handle the with the exception of the serve. racket. Athletes are allowed to serve by using a single Classes TT1 to TT5 are for athletes hand to lift and strike the ball. There is also a special competing in wheelchairs. serve rule for wheelchair users: the ball must be Classes TT6 to TT10 are for standing players. directed to the table’s end line, because movements Class TT11 is for standing players are limited. with an intellectual impairment. Matches consist of five sets of 11 points each

PAGE // 56 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Rena McCarron-Rooney / Table Tennis

Paralympic Discipline Singles

Sports Classification TT2

Buncrana, Co Donegal, now living in Bearna, Co Hometown Galway

Disability Group Spinal cord injury

onegal native Rena, who now lives in Galway, 2015 European Para Table Tennis Championships. D will be competing in her second Paralympics She has also competed at Grand Prix in Slovenia and after also competing in the singles and team event Slovakia this year and is currently ranked amongst at London 2012. Since then, she has competed at Europe’s top 25 wheelchair players and fifth in her the 2014 World Championships in Beijing, and later TT2 class. She is coached by her husband Ronan, achieved a silver medal in the singles event at the himself a five-time Paralympian

Ronan Rooney

Role Team Leader

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 57 TRIATHLON PAGE // 58 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 ix different sports applied to be included in S the 2016 Paralympic Games programme and CLASSIFICATION triathlon was one of just two that succeeded. The first World Triathlon Championship for PT1 – This class is for wheelchair users. Includes athletes with an impairment sanctioned by the Inter- athletes with comparable activity limitation and an national Triathlon Union (ITU) was held in 1996. The impairment of, but not limited to: muscle power, limb sport was first included on the Olympic programme deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis that prevent at Sydney 2000 and, for its Paralympic debut this the ability to safely ride a conventional bike and run. year, will have a distance of a 750m swim, 20km Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike cycle and 5km run, which defines it as a ‘sprint’ event. course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment.

PT2 - Includes athletes with comparable activity lim- RULES itation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and/or athetosis and The winner is the first athlete to complete the impaired muscle power or range of movement that course and time spent in transitions is included in the have an assessment score of up to 4.54.9 points. In overall race time. both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may There are helpers, chosen by competitors use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. themselves, who must be properly identified during each transition. PT4 - Includes athletes with comparable activity There are five classes in Para Triathlon but, on limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, its Paralympic debut, there will be only three classes limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and/or atheto- of events for men (PT1, PT2, and PT4) and three sis and related impaired muscle power or range of classes for women (PT2, PT4, and PT5). movement that have an assessment score of 4.55 to 4.94.9 points. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.

PT5 - Total or partial visual impairment (IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2, and B3). This includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light percep- tion in either eye, to some light perception but unable to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction (B1) and partially sighted athletes with a visual acuity of less than 6/60 vision or visual field less than 20 degrees with best corrective vision (B2- B3). A guide from the same nationality and gender is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 59 Catherine Walsh / Triathlon

Paralympic Discipline Para-Triathlon

Sports Classification PT5

Age 42 (DOB 23/08/1973)

Hometown Swords, Dublin

Disability Group Visual Impairment

atherine is a former Paralympic medallist This year they have also shown form, finishing fifth at C at pentathlon and track cycling who, since the European Championships in Lisbon in May and London 2012, successfully transitioned to triathlon since then taking two golds and one bronze at ITU with her long-time cycling pilot Fran Meehan. Their World Cup events, and were sixth at the World Cup first breakthrough was a bronze medal in an ITU in July in Rotterdam. Catherine is a physiotherapist World Cup in Edmonton last year where they also fin- and a mother of two. ished ninth in Para Triathlon’s Grand Final in Chicago.

Fran Meehan / Triathlon

Paralympic Discipline Triathlon pilot

Age 37 (DOB: 12/08/1978)

Hometown Killurin, Co Offaly

ran has piloted for Catherine for many years competitive cycling in 2007 and is extremely versa- F and won two Paralympic cycling medals with tile, winning on all terrain, including three national her in London. This is her second Paralympic Games. Cyclo-cross titles. She is a performance coach. She started out as a runner but then switched to

PAGE // 60 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Eamonn Tilley

Role Team Leader

PICTURE: Natalia Guzenko

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 61 SUPPORT STAFF PARALYMPICS IRELAND HQ TEAM IN RIO

Denis Toomey Dave Malone

Role Chef de Mission Role Performance Director

Niamh Buffini

Role Operations Manager

PARALYMPICS IRELAND SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICAL TEAM IN RIO

Dr. Joe Conway Stephen McIvor

Role Chief Medical Officer Role Sports Psychologist

PAGE // 62 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Jonathan Faulkner Alan Swanton

Role Lead Physiotherapist Role Performance Analyst

Dr. Jim O’Donovan John Loughrey

Role Doctor Role Physiotherapist

Thomas Divilly

Role Physiotherapist

PARALYMPICS IRELAND HOLDING CAMP SUPPORT TEAM (UBERLANDIA)

Antonia Rossiter Noel Murphy Strength & Condition- Role Physiologist Role ing

Graham Byas Andrea Gardiner Sport Support Staff - Role Goalkeeping Coach Role Swimming

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 63 PARALYMPICS IRELAND MEDIA SERVICES FOR RIO 2016 A full live service will be provided from Rio by a six-strong Paralympics Ireland media team on the ground while, back at home, Sinéad Naughton (Communications Director, Paralympics Ireland) will manage the media service in Dublin.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IN RIO Trish Mayon SERVICE IN IRELAND Lead: John Fulham Speciality: Swimming Sinéad Naughton Speciality: Athletics Email: [email protected] PI Communications Director email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mobile: 087 270 9182 Heather Boyle Mobile: 087 633 8512 Speciality: Cycling PI Media & Events Manager: Email: [email protected] Mary McGuire Speciality: All Anne McCarthy Email: [email protected] Speciality: All Mobile: 087 951 6651 Email: [email protected]

Cliona Foley Speciality: All Email: [email protected] #MORETHANSPORT Mobile: 087 238 6013

PAGE // 64 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 ONLINE MEDIA SERVICES Our dedicated media team will keep the www.paralympics.ie website updated constantly PRINT/DIGITAL with news, pictures and audio from Rio. Summaries and results for Team Ireland will be issued twice daily to all national and regional media. SOCIAL MEDIA App – Paralympics Ireland now has its own app, PHOTOS which will push notifications directly to your phone Images of the Irish team in action will be pro- for all important breaking news. If something major vided daily by Sportsfile’s Diarmuid Greene and happens, it will be flagged here first. You can down- Paul Mahon reproduction fee free (picture credit: load the app for free now from the Google Play Store Paralympics Ireland) Sportsfile also has stock train- or Apple Store by searching ‘Paralympics Ireland’. ing pics and headshots of all of the team (athletes Twitter: @paralympicsIRE and staff). They can be contacted directly at 01 454 The second quickest source of breaking news 7400 and through www.sportsfile.com. for Paralympics Ireland during the Games. You can also find us on Facebook, Snapchat TELEVISION and Instagram. RTÉ will have a one-hour programme on RTÉ 2 nightly during the 10 days of the OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES: Games and four concurrent live streams Official Games website: on RTE.ie and RTÉ Player. There will be 30 www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics hours of live and highlights coverage. Coverage will also be available on Eir International Paralympic (IPC) website: Sport’s Freeview Service: Sky Channel www.paralympic.org (includes all past results and 423, Virgin 105/401 and eirVision. medallists). There will also be daily live coverage on Channel 4. IPC’s Rio website: www.paralympic.org/rio-2016 A variety of Olympics/Paralympics apps are avail- able but ‘Rio2016’ is the IOC/IPC’s official one.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 65 BRAZILIAN WORDS AND PHRASES ENGLISH (Ingles) PORTUGUESE (Portugues)

Hello/Hi Olá/Oi

How are you? Tudo bem? / Como vai?

Reply to “how are you”? Bem, e você?

What’s your name? Qual é seu nome?

My name is… Meu nome é… / Me chamo…

Where are you from? De onde você é?

I’m from Ireland Eu sou da Irlanda

Goodbye Até logo!

Good luck Boa sorte!

Cheers! Saúde!

Do you understand? Você entende?

I understand Eu entendo

I don’t understand Eu não entendo

Please speak more slowly Fale mais devagar, por favor

What? Como?

Please write it down Você pode escrever isso pra mim, por favor?

PAGE // 66 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 ENGLISH (Ingles) PORTUGUESE (Portugues) Do you speak English? Você fala inglês?

Excuse me/Sorry Desculpa (inf)

Please Por favor

Thank you Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f)

Yes/No Sim/Não

You’re welcome De nada

ENGLISH (Ingles) PORTUGUESE (Portugues) Where’s the toilet? Onde é o banheiro? Do you accept card? Você aceita cartão? Hello/Hi Olá/Oi Well done/Congrats Parabéns How are you? Tudo bem? / Como vai? I have a reservation Eu tenho uma reserva Reply to “how are you”? Bem, e você? Car Carro What’s your name? Qual é seu nome? Bus Ônibus My name is… Meu nome é… / Me chamo… Subway Metrô Where are you from? De onde você é? Paralympic Village Vila Paralímpica I’m from Ireland Eu sou da Irlanda ATM Caixa eletrônica Goodbye Até logo! Coffe Café Good luck Boa sorte! Tea Chá Cheers! Saúde! No ice Sem gelo Do you understand? Você entende? Could I have the menu, please? Posso ver o cardápio, por favor? I understand Eu entendo Could I have the bill, please? A conta, por favor I don’t understand Eu não entendo

Please speak more slowly Fale mais devagar, por favor How much is this? Quanto custa isto? / Qual o preço disto? What? Como? What time do you open/close? Que horas você abre/fecha? Please write it down Você pode escrever isso pra mim, por favor?

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 67 ENGLISH (Ingles) PORTUGUESE (Portugues) Emergency Emergência

Can you help me? Você pode me ajudar?

Help! Socorro!

Fire! Fogo!

Stop! Pare!

Call the police! Chama a polícia!

I’m lost Estou perdido

Numbers Números Numbers Números Numbers Números

0 Zero 11 Onze 30 Trinta

1 Um 12 Doze 40 Quarenta

2 Dois 13 Treze 50 Cinquenta

3 Três 14 Quatorze 60 Sessenta

4 Quatro 15 Quinze 70 Setenta

5 Cinco 16 Dezesseis 80 Oitenta

6 Seis 17 Dezessete 90 Noventa

7 Sete 18 Dezoito 100 Cem

8 Oito 19 Dezenove

9 Nove 20 Vinte

10 Dez 21 Vinte e um

PAGE // 68 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 7. There’s a bronze statue dedicated to FUN FACTS Michael Jackson in the Santa Marta favela, where the superstar filmed the video to ABOUT RIO: the song They Don’t Care About Us. 8. In 2009, the city was voted the ‘ Happiest 1. Europeans first landed on present-day Rio de City in the World “ by Forbes Magazine. Janeiro in 1502 by a Portuguese expedition. 9. Common food/drink 2. Rio de Janeiro means “River of January”, Grilled meats – scoffed with gusto at however, its nickname is Cidade churrascarias (barbecue restaurants). Maravilhosa “Marvelous City”. Feijoada - stew of black beans with pork or 3. Rio is the second largest city in Brazil. other meat and vegetables, served with rice. 4. The Christ the Redeemer landmark on the Moqueca – a hearty fish soup, sometimes top of Corcovado Mountain is on the list served with coconut milk. of the Seven Wonders of the World. Brigadeiros – Brazil’s answer 5. The Maracanã Stadium holds the record for the to the chocolate truffle. largest attendance in history at a football match. A Pão de queijo – cheese and bread. record-smashing 200,000 fans turned out for the Acarajé – black-eyed peas served with decisive match of the 1950 World Cup, where Brazil prawns, cashews and palm oil. were defeated by South American rivals, Uruguay. Açaí – a juice made from berries 6. The largest ever concert was also in Rio. Rod found in the Amazon. Stewart played to an estimated 3.5 million Caipirinha – the national cocktail. people on Copacabana beach in 1994.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 69 TWEET TWEET! KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE ATHLETES ATHLETICS FOOTBALL Jason Smyth @smyth_jason Dillon Sheridan @dillonsheridan1 Michael McKillop @TeamMcKillop Brian McGillivary @mcbrianser88 Orla Barry @xorlabarryx Joseph Markey @joe2mark Niamh McCarthy @niamhmacdiscus Ryan Nolan @RobNolan92 Greta Streimikyte @streimikyte Conor Tuite @Tuiteser_tuite Deirdre Mongan @DeirdreMongan Gary Messett @Gmessett Pat Monahan @PaMonahan1986 Aaron Tier @atizer Cormac Birt @cormac_birt CANOEING Pat O’Leary @eentjebeen EQUESTRIAN Helen Kearney @HelenKearneyIRL CYCLING Eoghan Clifford @eoghan_clifford TRIATHLON Colin Lynch @FormerTTchamp Fran Meehan @FrancineMeehan Katie-George Dunlevy @KatieGDunlevy Eve McCrystal @evemccrystal SHOOTING Declan Slevin @para_dslevin Seán Baldwin @SeanBaldwin1 Damien Vereker @DamienVereker80 Phillip Eaglesham @PJEaglesham

SAILING Athletes on Team Ireland have agreed to refrain Austin O’Carroll @austinoc_austin from using social media for 48 hours prior to their event. Media are kindly requested to respect this SWIMMING performance initiative. Ellen Keane @keane_ellen James Scully @jamespscully

PAGE // 70 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Language in the context of the Paralympic Para athlete – an athlete classified as having an eligi- Games is important because it can help shape and ble impairment/disability to compete in para sports. change perceptions of athletes with disabilities. We hope you can help us to continue doing this by using Para sport – sports in which para athletes compete, the glossary below as a guide. for example UCI Para Cycling World Championships

Paralympic sport – A sport that will feature at the TERMS AND Paralympic Games eg. the Paralympic sport of DEFINITIONS: Wheelchair Rugby. NOTE: The term ‘Paralympic’ is only used in refer- Paralympics or Paralympic Games - A major inter- ence to the Paralympic Games. World or Regional national multi-sport event for athletes with a range Championships are not Paralympic World Champi- of physical disabilities and intellectual impairment. onships or Paralympic European Championships. They are held every four years and there are Summer There is also no such thing as ‘Parolympian/ Paralympics and Winter Paralympics. All are governed Paraolympian’ or Parolympics/Paraolympics’ by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Paralympian – a title given only to an athlete who has PREFERRED competed at a Paralympic Games. Once a Paralym- pian, always a Paralympian! It is a title for life. DESCRIPTIONS

Paralympic athlete –also used to describe someone When describing athletes in para sport, always who has competed at a Paralympic Games. refer to them as an athlete first and their disability second: eg - ‘athlete with a disability/impairment’ is Retired Paralympian – description of someone who better to use than ‘disabled/impaired athlete.’ no longer competes but is a Paralympian. They are Do not describe a para athlete by their medical not a former-Paralympian or an ex-Paralympian. condition. It does not define them. For example: a paraplegic. Instead use: an athlete with Paraplegia.

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 71 COMPETITION SCHEDULE Local time

ATHLETICS ENGENHÁO STADIUM MARACANÃ HUB

Orla Barry

Discus F57 Final Day 8, Thursday 15th September 10.05-13:00

Orla Comerford

100m Heats T13 Day 3, Saturday September 10th 17:36 – 17:48

100m Final T13 * Day 4, Sunday September 11th 10:57 – 11:03

Paul Keogan

400m Heats T37 Day 8, Thursday 15th September 11:44 – 12:02

400m Final T37 * Day 9, Friday 16th September 10:23 – 10:29

PAGE // 72 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Noelle Lenihan

Discus Final F38 Day 10, Saturday 17th September 17:45-18:55

Niamh McCarthy

Discus Final F41 Day 8, Thursday 15th September 17:40-18:55

Patrick Monahan

800m Heats T53 Day 7, Wednesday, September 14th 11:22 – 11:42

800m Final T53 * Day 8, Thursday, September 15th 19:05 – 19:11

Marathon T53 Day 11, Sunday 18th September 12:30 – 14:30

Deirdre Mongan

Shot Put Final F53 Day 5, Monday 12th September 10.03-13:00

Michael McKillop

1500m Final T37 Day 4 , Sunday 11th September 11:33-11:40

Jason Smyth

100m Heats T13 Day 1, Thursday 8th September 19:34-19:46

100m Final T13 * Day 2, Friday 9th September 11:04-11:10

Greta Streimikyte

1500m Final T13 Day 3, Saturday 10th September 11:10-11:17

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 73 CANOEING LAGOA STADIUM COPACABANA HUB

Patrick O’Leary

KL3 200m Heats Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 11:20-11:30

KL3 200m Semi-Final * Day 8, Thursday 15th September 9:35-9:45

KL3 200m Final * Day 8, Thursday 15th September 11:05-11:18

CYCLING VELODROME (BARRA) - TRACK PONTAL (ROAD)

Eoghan Clifford (Track)

C3 Invid Pursuit Qual Day 2, Friday 9th September 12:13-12:53

C3 Indiv Pursuit Final * Day 2, Friday 9th September 18:52-19:07

C1-C3 Indiv Kilo Finals Day 3, Saturday 10th September 16:30-17:54

Eoghan Clifford (Road)

C3 Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 13:30 – 16:00

C1-3 Road Race Day 9, Friday 16th September 9:30-11:30

Katie-George Dunlevy (stoker) & Eve McCrystal (pilot) – Track Indiv Kilo B Final Day 2, Friday 9th September 10:00-10:48

Indiv Pursuit B Qual Day 4, Sunday 11th September 10:00-10:45

Indiv Pursuit B Final * Day 4, Sunday 11th September 12:30-12:45

PAGE // 74 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Katie George Dunlevy (stoker) & Eve McCrystal (pilot) – Road Women’s B Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 13:30-16:00

Women’s B Road Race Day 10, Saturday 17th September 13:05-15:35

Colin Lynch (Track)

C2 Indiv Pursuit Qual Day 2, Friday 9th September 11:34-12:13

C2 Indiv Pursuit Final * Day 2, Friday 9th September 18:25-18:40

C1-3 Indiv Kilo Finals Day 3, Saturday 10th September 16:30-17:54

Colin Lynch (Road)

C2 Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 8:00-11:30

C1-3 Road Race Day 9, Friday 16th September 9:30-11:30

Ciara Staunton (Road)

H2-3 Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 8:00 – 11:30

H2-4 Road Race Day 8, Thursday 15th September 12:20 – 14:00

Declan Slevin (Road)

H3 Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 8:00 – 11:30

H3 Road Race Day 8, Thursday 15th September 14:20 – 16:00

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 75 Damien Vereker (stoker) and Séan Hahessy (pilot) Track Indiv B Pursuit Qual Day 1, Thursday 8th September 11:57 – 12:34

Indiv B Pursuit Final * Day 1, Thursday 8th September 17:38 - 17:53

Indiv B Kilo Final Day 4 Sunday 11th September 11:34 – 12:28

Damien Vereker and Séan Hahessy Road Men’s B Time Trial Day 7, Wednesday 14th September 13:30 – 16:00

Men’s B Road Race Day 10, Friday 17th September 13:00 -16:15

EQUESTRIAN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE DEODORO HUB (DRESSAGE)

Helen Kearney

Grade 1a Team Test Day 5, Monday 12th September 14:00 – 16:42

Grade 1a Indiv C’ship Day 8, Thursday 15th September 14:00 – 16:42

Grade 1a Freestyle C’ship Day 9, Friday 16th September 14:10 – 15:06

PAGE // 76 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 FOOTBALL 7-A-SIDE DEODORA STADIUM DEODORA HUB

Luke Evans (c), Tomiwa Badun, Cormac Birt, Joseph Markey, Brian McGillivary, Carl McKee, Gary Messett, Ryan Nolan, Eric O’Flaherty, Dillon Sheridan, Aaron Tier, Conor Tuite, Jordan Walker, Ryan Walker Ireland v Ukraine Day 1, Thursday 8 September 14:00

Ireland v Brazil Day 3, Saturday 10th September 19:00

Ireland v GB Day 5, Monday 12th September 16.15

Play-offs Day 7, Wednesday 14th September Time TBC

Final * Day 9, Friday 16th September Time TBC

FORT COCACABANA SAILING MARINA DI GLORIA HUB

John Twomey, Ian Costelloe, Austin O’Carroll (Sonar)

Sonar Races 1&2 Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 13:30-14:30/15:00-16:00

Sonar Races 3&4 Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 13:30-14:30/15:00-16:00

Sonar Races 5&6 Day 7, Wednesday 14th Sept 13:30-14:30/15:00-16:00

Sonar Races 7&8 Day 8, Thursday 15th Sept 13:30-14:30/15:00-16:00

Sonar Races 9&10 Day 9, Friday 16th Sept 13:30-14:30/15:00-16:00

Sonar Race 11 (Medal final)* Day 10, Saturday 17th Sept 12:00-13:00

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 77 SHOOTING OLYMPIC SHOOTING CENTRE DEODORO HUB

Seán Baldwin (SH1)

R1 10m Rifle Standing Qual Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 12:00-13:15

R1 10m Rifle Standing Final* Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 14:30-15:00

R3 Mixed 10m Rifle Prone Day 3, Saturday 10th Sept 9:30-10:20 Qual R3 Mixed 10m Rifle Prone Day 3, Saturday 10th Sept 11:45-12:15 Final *

R7 50m Rifle 3Positions Qual Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 9:30-12:15

R7 50m Rifle 3Positions Final Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 13:30-14:15 *

R6 50m Rifle Prone Qual Day 7, Wednesday 14th Sept 9:30-10:20

R6 50m Rifle Prone Final* Day 7, Wednesday 14th Sept 11:45-12:15

Phillip Eaglesham (SH2) R5 Mixed 10m Rifle Prone Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 13:00-14:00 Qual R5 Mixed 10m Rifle Prone Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 15:15-15:45 Final *

PAGE // 78 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 SWIMMING OLYMPIC AQUATIC STADIUM BARRA HUB

Ellen Keane

SM9 200m IM Heats Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 9:56-10:09

SM9 200m IM Final * Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 17:53-18:06

SB8 100m BR Heats Day 7, Wednesday 14th Sept 9:42-9:55

SB8 100m BR Final * Day 7, Wednesday 14th Sept 17:37-17:45

S9 100m B’fly Heats Day 8, Thursday 15th Sept 9:40-9:46

S9 100m B’fly Final* Day 8, Thursday 15th Sept 17:40-17:47

S9 100m Back Heats Day 9, Friday 16th Sept 9:52-10:00

S9 100m Back Final * Day 9 Friday 16th Sept 17:52-17:59

Ailbhe Kelly

S8 400m FS Heats Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 10:00-10:17

S8 400m FS Final * Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 17:46-18:03

S8 100m FS Heats Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 11:14-11:21

S8 100m FS Final * Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 19:46-19:53

S8 100m Back Heats Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 11:18-11:26

S8 100m Back Final * Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 19:50-20:03

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 79 James Scully

S5 200m FS Heats Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 11:35 - 11:47

S5 200m FS Final * Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 20:31-20:58

S5 50m FS Heats Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 12:00-12:08

S5 50m FS Final * Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 20:36-20:48

S5 100m FS Heats Day 10, Saturday 17th Sept 11:08-11:27

S5 100m FS Final * Day 10, Saturday 17th Sept 19:50-20:16

Nicole Turner

S6 50m B’Fly Heats Day 2, Friday 9th Sept 10:25 – 10:46

S6 50m B’Fly Final * Day 2, Friday 9th Sept 18:51 – 19:04

S6 50m FS Heats Day 3, Saturday 10th Sept 9:58-10:09

S6 50m FS Final * Day 3, Saturday 10th Sept 17:57-18:06

SM6 200m IM Heats Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 11:29-11:36

SM6 200m IM Final * Day 5, Monday 12th Sept 19:45-19:57

S6 400m FS Heats Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 9:48-10:05

S6 400m FS Final * Day 6, Tuesday 13th Sept 17:40-17:52

SB6 100m BR Heats Day 8, Thursday 15th Sept 9:59-10.07

SB6 100m BR Final * Day 8, Thursday 15th Sept 17:50-17:59

S6 100m FS Heats Day 10, Saturday 17th Sept 9:41-9:48

S6 100m FS Final * Day 10, Saturday 17th Sept 17:40-17:47

PAGE // 80 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 TABLE TENNIS RIOCENTRO, PAVILION 3 BARRA HUB

Rena McCarron Rooney

SF1-2 Women’s Singles Qual Day 1, Thursday 8th Sept 13:00-13:40

SF1-2 Women’s Singles Qual Day 2, Friday 9th Sept 11:40-12:20

SF1-2 Women’s Singles Qual Day 2, Friday 9th Sept 18:40 – 19:20

SF1-2 Women’s Q/finals* Day 3, Saturday 10th Sept 13:40-14:20 SF1-2 Women’s singles Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 11:00-11:45 Semis * SF1-2 Singles Medal Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 19:15-20:00 Matches *

TRIATHLON FORT COPACABANA COPACABANA HUB

Catherine Walsh (stoker) & Fran Meehan (pilot)

PT5 Women’s Triathlon Day 4, Sunday 11th Sept 11:20-12:55

* Final times listed are subject to athletes progression through competition **PLEASE NOTE – All times are subject to change (All times in Brazilian time. Final times listed are subject to the athlete’s progression through the competition)

#MORETHANSPORT

PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 81 Powered by pride Flogas is proud to be the Official Energy Partner of Paralympics Ireland

The world belongs to those who dare. Allianz. Proud supporter of Paralympics Ireland since 2010

Wherever you are PAGE // 82 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Powered by pride Flogas is proud to be the Official Energy Partner of Paralympics Ireland

The world belongs to those who dare. Allianz. Proud supporter of Paralympics Ireland since 2010

Wherever you are Clayton Hotels Official Hotel Partner of Paralympics Ireland

Belfast • Cardiff • Cork • Dublin • Galway • Leeds London • Manchester Airport • Wexford

claytonhotels.com LoCall 1850 655 855 (ROI) or 0845 434 9494 (UK)

PAGE // 84 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016

Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors & Business Advisers

Good luck to all Paralympic Counting Official Chartered Athletes in Rio!

on Irish Accountants to From Mondeléz International Winners Paralympics Ireland Proud Official Sponsors of the 2016 Irish Paralympic Team

McInerneySaunders

38 Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (1) 8404029 Fax: +353 (1) 8407496

PAGE // 86 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 Good luck to all Paralympic Athletes in Rio!

From Mondeléz International

Proud Official Sponsors of the 2016 Irish Paralympic Team SUPPORTING IRISH PARALYMPIC SPORT

INSTITUTE OF SPORT www.sportireland.ie SUPPORTING @ sportireland PARALYMPIC SPORT www.instituteofsport.ie PAGE // 88 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016

Sport Ireland ad_2.indd 1 12/08/2016 16:20 Sport Ireland ad.indd 1 12/08/2016 15:43 SUPPORTING IRISH PARALYMPIC SPORT

INSTITUTE OF SPORT www.sportireland.ie SUPPORTING @ sportireland PARALYMPIC SPORT www.instituteofsport.ie PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 89

Sport Ireland ad_2.indd 1 12/08/2016 16:20 Sport Ireland ad.indd 1 12/08/2016 15:43 NOTES

PAGE // 90 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016 PARALYMICS IRELAND PAGE // 91 WILSON 021WILSON 4700491

Paralympics Ireland, Irish Sport HQ, #MORETHANSPORT National Sports Campus, PICTURE: Blanchardstown, ‘More Than Sport’ campaign image featuring Dublin 15 Nicole Turner, Katie-George Dunlevy, Eve Tel: 01 6251175 McCrystal, Seán Baldwin, Michael McKillop, [email protected] Ellen Keane, Luke Evans, Jason Smyth, Eoghan www.paralympics.ie Clifford and Patrick Monahan

PAGE // 92 IRISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE 2016