As the branding around the Para-Swimming Allianz European Championships comes down in Dublin, the athletes of Paralympics Ireland have wasted no time in confirming their continued strength at the European Para Athletics Championships in Berlin.
Yesterday’s competition was one of Ireland’s most successful on an international stage with Greta Streimikyte, Jason Smyth, and Orla Barry all winning Gold in their respective competitions.
Smyth’s longevity at the very top of Parasprinting is a match for that of Usain Bolt in able bodies sport and his continued dominance is perhaps one of Ireland’s greatest sporting stories.
This was his seventeenth major Championship Gold across the 100 and 200 metres, going back as far as the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
Yesterday’s 200 metres victory set a new Championship record beating the one he set himself as an 18-year old a full 13 years ago.
He goes again on Thursday in the 100 metres and all the events are being streamed live at www.paralympic.org/berlin-2018/.
The medals in Berlin add to the Gold, Silver and Bronze won by Ellen Keane and Nicole Turner in the swimming in Dublin last weekend. Some incredible week.
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Image credit Luc Percival, Sportsfile
