11/09/2012

Team Ireland Comes Home With 16 Medals

Team Ireland's Paralympians have arrived home to hero's welcome at Dublin airport.

The most successful Irish Paralympian team in history touched down to be met by crowds yesterday after winning 16 medals - half of which were gold - at London 2012.

The team included six competitors from Northern Ireland.

Double gold medallist Michael McKillop told RTE: "To be able to come home with two gold medals after representing my country and breaking my records and Paralympic records, and being honoured with a special award last night at the closing ceremony, it just means everything to me to come home."

McKillop won gold in the Men's T32 800m and the T37 1500m and was presented with an award for being the mae athlete who best personified the spirit of the Games.

Jason Smyth from Eglinton confirmed his "fastest Paralympian on earth" status, winning gold in the T13 100m and 200m finals.

And 16-year-old swimmer Bethany Firth, from Seaforde in County Down, won the 100m backstroke.

Bronze medals went to Portaferry cyclist James Brown and Armagh's Eilish Byrne, in team dressage.

Representing Team GB, Greyabbey archer Sharon Vennard reached the quarter-finals in the women's individual recurve and Ballykelly sprinter, 17-year-old Sally Brown was sixth in the final of the T46 100m.

(NE)

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