Niamh McCarthy has called time on her Paralympic career at the age of 27. The Cork woman was best known as Ireland’s leading discus throwers.

She competed in the F40/41 classification as an athlete with reduced stature.

The discus thrower first broke onto the international scene in 2013 and progressed quickly on the world stage. She secured her first major medal at the World Championships in Doha where she won the Bronze medal.

The Carrigaline native never looked back after that first taste of podium success and replicated it with a World Championship medal in 2017 and again in 2019. McCarthy has also triumphed at the European level as she won silver in 2016 but better was to follow in 2019 when she became European champion for the first time.

Thanks everyone for the kind words over the last days! Tokyo2020 was a whirlwind of emotion but I wouldn’t change a thing! Also want to say a massive thank you to my longtime sponsor @FlogasIreland who have supported me for years and made this journey that bit easier! Arigato! pic.twitter.com/0VQmcla9dy

— Niamh McCarthy (@niamhmacdiscus) September 6, 2021

Her crowning moment came in 2016 when she competed for Team Ireland at the Rio 2016 Games.

McCarthy certainly saved her best for the biggest stage as she produced a staggering throw of 27:05m to record a new personal best in the event which secured the Cork
woman the silver medal.

She now finishes her career with many medals and records under her belt;  two European golds, one silver; one World silver, two bronze; and one Olympic silver. She also owns the European record for discus throw since August 2018 with a distance of 31.76 meters.

What a Games! We will miss you, Japan

Arigatō Tokyo 2020 ありがとう#Paris2024 we’ll be ready! #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/dDC0l7skaB

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 5, 2021

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Paralympic and Irish sports news, click here.

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BOOM!! 3rd medal of the #Paralympics for @KatieGDunlevy & @evemccrystal !! https://t.co/v3b4FOUikF

— Jacqui Hurley (@jacquihurley) September 3, 2021

Katie George-Dunleavy, Eve McCrystal – Women’s B Road Race

This has already been an amazing Paralympics for the Irish pair having won gold already earlier in the week. After hearing the national anthem while atop the podium, the two seemed excited to do it again.

This tough race set off at 05:00 this morning Irish time. Dunleavy and McCrystal showed their strength on the road in the time trial and this would be no difference and they continuously stayed near the top of the pack with its changing leaders and bursts from behind.

Just before the halfway mark of the 92.4km race, the Irish pair had themselves in a great position in the leading pack with the damp conditions not affecting them.

The race became more hectic in the final 12km lap. The Irish women were in the top three, competing with Team GB and the Swedish athletes.

They showed their true quality and fitness to break out in front over the last few kilometers. They brought the gold medal home in the Road Race with a time of 2:35:53.

This is now their third medal at these Paralympic Games and it marks them as one of the greatest tandem teams to compete in the sport.

GOLD Go on @KatieGDunlevy & @evemccrystal #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/73bbTabt0r

— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) September 3, 2021

Ronan Grimes – Men’s C4-5 Road Race

The Galway man was one of 25 riders in this long 92 km race. He came in this event searching for silverware with this being his third and final event.

Grimes’ race set off at 01:30 Irish time, with all racers going at a hectic pace to make it to the top and set the tempo.

As the race progressed, the Irishman had dropped to the back of the main group of riders, it was clear that this event is harder for cyclists without a partner from the same nation.

Grimes finished the race in 11th position with a time of 2:29:21

Richael Timothy – Women’s C1-3 Road Race

Timothy started only six minutes after Grimes’ event as she lined up with 14 other riders. This was the Irish woman’s fourth race at a busy Paralympics having broken personal bests in earlier events

Using some good riding, she remained off the top group of cyclists for the majority of the race. The tough wet conditions made it hard for each rider, making the race much more compact and steadier.

The 26-year-old finished the race in the 11th position with a time of 1:21:22.

As Ronan prepares for the off here is Richael Timothy on the rollers. #ParaCycling #paralympics #TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/SZnjaB4Juk

— Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) September 3, 2021

Martin Gordon, Aidan Byrne – Men’s B Road Race

This was set to be a long and tough race for the Irish pair lining up against some top-class opponents. This would be the pair’s fourth and final event at these Paralympic Games.

Unfortunately, today was not going to be the glory finish for the Irish tandem team as the weather conditions continued to get worse. The heavy downpour of rain led to Gordon and Byrne withdrawing a little over two hours into the race.

It is not the ending that the Sligo and Dublin men would have wanted but they leave these Games after breaking personal best times and setting a new Irish record.

Also in #ParaCycling Martin Gordon and Eamonn Byrne finished fifth in the B 1000m Time Trial Final following their PB time of 1:01.545.@AllianzIreland #Tokyo2020 #TeamIreland #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/QDaITnefQS

— Pundit Arena (@PunditArena) August 28, 2021

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Patrick Flanagan – S6 100m Backstroke Heat 2

This is Flanagan’s second race of his debut Paralympic games. Yesterday he finished in seventh place in the 400m Freestyle.

This morning, the Sligo man was hoping to build on that performance in the Backstroke. After watching a very strong opening heat, Flanagan would take part in the second race.

#ParaSwimming Patrick Flanagan becomes a Paralympian at #Tokyo2020 – Patrick finished 7th place in the S6 400 Freestyle with a time of 5:40.48.

He will return to action tomorrow for the S6 100m Backstroke.#TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/xSxnnWmVir

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 2, 2021

The Irish swimmer started the race in the water in lane seven with six other very strong swimmers. The outside lanes are normally the hardest places to start a race and he struggled to keep up with the leaders in the beginning.

Flanagan started to speed up before the only turn and he jumped up to fifth place. He held his position for the remainder of the race, not able to find the extra gear needed to scare the event favorites.

The Irishman hit the wall in a time of 1:26.81, this was unfortunately not enough for him to progress to the finals later today.

#ParaSwimming Patrick Flanagan wrapped up #Tokyo2020 for #TeamIreland Swim Team this morning

Patrick swam a time of 1:26.81 in the S6 100m Backstroke Heat. #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/mCn61MxKXQ

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 3, 2021

The end of the event concludes Flanagan’s Paralympic journey in Tokyo but as a young debutant, he still has many years ahead of him and Paris is only three years away.

He has done his coach David Malone and the people of Rosses point proud with two strong races as part of a historic Irish Paralympic team.

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Pat O’Leary – Men’s 200m KL3 semifinal

This is Pat O’Leary’s third race at the Paralympic Games. His journey began yesterday as he competed well in two opening heats, the Va’a and the Kayak.

He finished in fifth place in his heat for this event the last day but knows he will need to kick it up a notch to qualify for the final. The 48-year-old will want to improve on his best Paralympic result after finishing in sixth place overall in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

#ThrowbackThursday
⁣
⁣Pat O’Leary in action during the KL3 200m Final at Lagoa Stadium during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Patrick was the first Irish canoeist to compete at a Paralympic Games
⁣
⁣#TeamIreland #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/q7bjoR2pX5

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) October 15, 2020

He started this short, fast race in lane three with five other racers. The top three racers would qualify for the A final while the next three would to put in the B final.

The race got off to a hectic start with each paddle forcing the water back and the kayaks glided over the water. O’Leary maintained a strong speed that kept him in touching distance with the fastest racers.

Unfortunately, the Cork man’s impressive performance was not enough to qualify for the A final only half a second behind Germany’s Tom Kierey.

He finished in fourth place with a time of 42.203 and would go into the B final.

#ParaCanoe | #TeamIreland

Pat O'Leary #TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/ixlK2EPugl

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 1, 2021

There was very little turnaround between the semifinals and finals. Only an hour later, O’Leary lined out in lane four as one of the fastest competitors in the race.

He finished this race in a time of 42.416 seconds and this meant that he finished in an overall position of ninth for the kayak event.

It was a good day for O’Leary but he will hope to go one step further as he goes into the Va’a semifinals tomorrow morning.

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Patrick Flanagan – Men’s 400m Freestyle – S6 Heat 2

Flanagan’s first race of Tokyo 2020 commenced just after 01:00 Irish time this morning.

The Sligo man started in lane one in the water, giving him a distinct disadvantage to those that could jump from the block.

Starting behind most of the other swimmers, Flanagan remained in eighth place after the second turn. After the halfway mark, he continued to drop off from the strong Mexican swimmers leading the race.

Flanagan finished the race with a time of 5:40.48 in eighth place 28 seconds behind the leader. He may be disappointed with the result of the race today but hopefully, he can build on this for his next event, the Backcrawl tomorrow morning.

Sligo LGFA wishes the best of luck to Patrick Flanagan (Rossespoint) as he takes to the pool at 1.07am Irish time. #paraswimming

#teamireland @abbvie @ConnachtGold @PlayrFit@itsligo @SligoChampion @sligoweekender@oceanfmsport @HerSportDotIE @SportsDaz pic.twitter.com/P6G6OJDVAR

— Sligo LGFA (@SligoLGFA) September 1, 2021

Barry McClements – Men’s 100m Butterfly – S9 Heat 2

McClements began his fourth and final race of what has been a very busy Paralympic campaign a half an hour after Flanagan this morning. He has already shown some very strong performances in the last six days at the Tokyo Aquatic center but he was hoping to reach another final today.

McClements started the race in lane six with five other swimmers. The 19-year-old started fast and had himself in fourth at the turn, he remained with the leaders and posted a time of 1:02.83.

He needed to have an agonizing wait for the third heat to know if he had qualified. After watching the Australian William Martin break a world record he knew he missed out on a final place by 0.7 seconds.

This marks the end of McClements’ strong Paralympic journey after competing in four events and reaching one final.

The future seems bright for the teenager and Paris in three years’ time cannot come any sooner as McClements can only improve.

#paraswimming – Barry McClements has set the standard early on for #TeamIreland #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/EIvtpTSQV8

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) August 25, 2021

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Signing off until racing is done. Talk on the far side pic.twitter.com/rokHHnNCIN

— Patrick O'Leary (@eentjebeen) September 1, 2021

Patrick O’Leary – Men’s Kayak Single 200m – KL3 Heat 1

Ireland’s leading Paralympic canoer had a busy morning in Tokyo with two important races in the space of an hour and a half. His first race began at 02:00 Irish time and the Irishman went in lane six.

The 48-year-old was in a very diverse race including the three-time world champion Tom Kierey. This is a very fast and energetic event and this race was no different.

O’Leary started well, remaining with the main group in the beginning. At the halfway mark he began to drop off into the sixth position but showed true fitness in the final sprint to push into fifth and qualify for the semi-finals.

He finished in a time of 43.502 but did not have a lot of time to celebrate as he had to prepare for his second race of the day.

本日 #パラカヌー スプリント男子KL3予選、VL3予選に出場するパトリック・オレアリー選手は、リオ2016大会でアイルランドを代表する初のパラカヌー選手となりました。

アスリートである一方、彼はアイルランド国立大学ゴールウェイ校で有機化学を教えています。Ádh mór (Best of luck), Pat pic.twitter.com/zHhRYTBGVw

— アイルランド大使館 Ireland in Japan (@IrishEmbJapan) September 2, 2021

Men’s Va’a Single 200m – VL3 Heat 1

Only 80 minutes later and O’Leary was at the starting line, raring to go and qualify for another semi-final.

He continued his stellar form into this traditionally Samoan-style race, as he got off to a speedy start. He always remained within touching distance of the leading rider and the 48-year-old finished the race in a time of 54.70 seconds.

This time earned him a fifth place which is good enough to qualify for the Va’a semi-finals this Saturday.

Now that O’Leary has found his form reaching two semi-finals at the Paralympics, there is more hope that he can better his Paralympic best, which was sixth in Rio 2016.

#ParaCanoe Patrick O’Leary has qualified for the semi-finals of the VL3 Va’a on Saturday after finishing 5th in his heat in a time of 54.70 seconds #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/YqqzHLx4l0

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 2, 2021

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Ellen Keane – Women’s 200m IM – SM9 Final

Keane qualified for this medal race after a good swim this morning in the heats. She finished in a clear second place with a time of 2:40.99.

She has said that she is very relaxed going into these races knowing it is not her strongest event.

Although she will not be nervous, this is her last race in what has been a historic Paralympics for the 26-year-old. The gold medal she claimed in the breaststroke a few days ago could give her confidence to push on for a medal again.

The Dublin woman lined out in lane one and starting with the Butterfly she found herself in fourth at the turn. Backstroke is her weakest swim and she dropped off the top three a bit. Next was her favorite the breaststroke and she closed the gap on the medal places.

She finished with the freestyle but it was not enough as she hit the wall at 2:38.64, tiring and dropping into fifth.

The gold went to Australia’s Sophie Pascoe with Hungary’s Zsofia Konkoly taking silver and Spain’s Nuria Marques Soto getting bronze.

Keane can be proud of her performance after coming into the final ranked in seventh to only finish seconds off a medal.

#ParaSwimming S9 100m Breaststroke Champion, Ellen Keane finishes joint 5th in the SM9 200 IM with a time of 2:38.64, setting a new PB

Brilliant performance by Ellen to wrap up her #Tokyo2020 campaign. #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/VYnTkDjvD5

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 1, 2021

Róisín Ní Ríaín – Women’s 100m Breaststroke – SB13 Final

This has been a monumental debut Paralympics for Róisín Ní Ríaín as she has taken part in six events.

In the heat for this event, she broke yet another personal best finishing in a time of 1:20.81. She is now ranked in fifth place overall going into the final and hoping to push for her first-ever Paralympic medal.

She started the race in lane two and sprung from the block. The Limerick woman could not find her best form by the turn and found herself in eighth. She pushed on in the last 50m and finished the race in seventh place in a time of 1:20.34, another personal best.

The gold medal went to Germany’s Elena Krawzow, Team GB’s Rebecca Redfern received the silver, and USA’s Colleen Young got the bronze.

Ní Ríaín can still be proud as this was her sixth event, fourth and last final for the 16-year-old at her first Paralympic Games. She will be treated as a hero when she returns home to Limerick in the next few days.

#ParaSwimming Róisín Ní Riain finishes off #Tokyo2020 with ANOTHER PB – what a first Paralympic Games it’s been for the 16 year old #TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/znneTfi5QJ

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 1, 2021

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Gary O'Reilly shares his amazing story after winning bronze at the #Paralympics just four years after taking up hand-cycling. pic.twitter.com/0i7HxlPHvO

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 31, 2021

Gary O’Reilly – H5 Men’s Time Trial Final

This morning at 01:30, Gary O’Reilly took to his handcycle for the men’s Time Trial final. This was his second race of what is his debut at the Paralympic Games.

The young cyclist is still probably relishing his bronze medal finish in the time trial yesterday. He has become one of the tournament’s biggest surprises having only taken up the sport in 2017 after a workplace injury in 2014.

He has now laid a marker as one to watch for the rest of the competition and now with the final this morning he could prove he is one of the best in the world in his category.

This would be a much longer race than the final yesterday with this event stretching over 79.2km.

The Laois man did not get off to his strongest of starts as he tried to steady himself. Going by his historic race yesterday, he is a much better cyclist after the halfway mark, being able to push himself hard.

After 53km in the race, O’Reilly had himself sitting in fifth place needing a lot more work if he was to make the medal places. Over the next 20km, he pushed himself hard and work his way into fourth but it was not enough for a medal.

He finished in a time of 2:24:57 only 27 seconds behind the gold medallist, Netherland’s unstoppable cyclist Valize. A close silver went to France’s Vergnaud and bronze went to Netherland’s De Vries.

This will be a tough result for O’Reilly after fighting back only to lose out on a medal by 17 seconds.

On a more positive note, this race has now ensured that he will be remembered as one of the world’s strongest handcyclists, competing consistently and he will look forward to Paris in three years’ time.

#ParaCycling On the back of his bronze medal win yesterday, Gary O’Reilly finished in 4th place with a time of 2:24:57 in the H5 Road Race today.

Another excellent performance from Gary, this is just the start for Gary O’Reilly!#TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/vYlAsdWGNV

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 1, 2021

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#ParaCycling #Bronze for GARY O'REILLY!

Gary O'Reilly bags bronze for #TeamIreland in the H5 Time Trial with a time of 39:36.46 Stopwatch

What a way to make your first appearance at a Paralympic Games #TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/4huTH3jEC7

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) August 31, 2021

Richael Timothy – Women’s C1-3 Time Trial

Timothy began her Paralympic day early, just after 09:00 in Tokyo. She was looking to go one step further on some of her performances earlier in the competition.

Timothy managed to break some personal best records while cycling in the Velodrome but today she took to the roads of Japan.

The athletes would start the race in stagnated runs with Timothy riding in the final three. Today would not be her day as she finished in 13th place with a time of 30:55.24.

Japanese cyclist Sugiura would take the gold medal on her home track. The silver medal would go to Sweden’s Beck while Australia’s Greco took a close third place.

#ParaCycling Richael Timothy returned to action this morning on Day 7, Richael finished the Road C1-3 Time Trial with a time of 30:55.24 in 14th place.

She will return to action on Day 10 in the Road Race.#TeamIreland | #TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/Ip8ljM6nvX

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) August 31, 2021

Gary O’Reilly – Men’s H5 Time Trial

The men’s event began only 20 minutes after the women’s event with O’Reilly setting off as the sixth cyclist. Using the handcycles, he was in with an outside shot for a medal.

His first two laps were steady as he tried to find his rhythm on the road. As the second lap finished, he became a man on a mission as he blitzed the competition, opening out a 37-second lead for the lap.

His main source of competition was from Netherlands De Vries who rode along with him.

The 28-year-old finished his final lap in a time of 39:36.46 only a minute and a half behind the leader and good enough for him to claim a bronze medal.

The gold medal was well-earned by the Netherland’s Valize even after he fell against the fences on a tight bend. The silver medal was given to France’s Vergnaud.

This becomes Ireland’s fifth medal of the Paralympics so far and O’Reilly will be one to watch in the men’s road race tomorrow.

#ParaCycling | #TeamIreland

Gary O'Reilly#TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hnfYm3ecxh

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) August 30, 2021

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Orla Comerford – Women’s T13 100m race (Heats)

Comerford had to psyche herself up for a tough morning race starting at 10:45 in Tokyo.

This is her first and only event at this year’s Games, the 23-year-old from Howth made her debut at the Paralympics five years ago in Rio de Janeiro. She wanted to show her real quality today after being disappointed with her performance in 2016.

She should be happy to have made it this far after undergoing surgery on her left ankle in 2019, resulting in her barely competing over a three-year period.

#ParaAthletics | #TeamIreland

Orla Comerford#TheNextLevel | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/lVguXQhKnv

— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) August 30, 2021

This morning she ran in the third and final heat with the Howth woman running in lane six. This was a good chance for Comerford as she came into this race with the third-fastest personal best of her opponents.

The two fastest athletes from each heat would be guaranteed places in the final.

After a false start that only resulted in talking to the Ugandan athlete, the race got underway. Comerford started strong but by the halfway mark, the top three athletes started to break away.

She held onto a fourth-place position in a time of 12.87, she would have needed to cut down 0.67 seconds to reach the qualifying places.

Azerbaijan’s Elena Chebanu qualified in the first place and was narrowly followed by Spain’s Adriaratou Iglesias Forneiro in second.

This marks the end of another Paralympic journey for Orla Comerford but she can keep her head held high as it was remarkable how she managed to reach these Games.

Orla Comerford has not progressed beyond the heats of the T13 100m. She ran a time of 12.87 finishing 4th in heat 3. Orla has struggled with injury since making her Paralympic debut in Rio and it was a achievement in itself to qualify for Tokyo pic.twitter.com/S8y75awDXe

— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) August 31, 2021

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