IRELAND HAVE SECURED their third medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games after Sean McCarthy claimed bronze in the Men’s Kumite +68kg semi-finals.
The Cork native — who won European silver in Sochi back in February — came up short against Moroccan Nabil Ech-Chaabi and suffered a 2-1 defeat which meant he didn’t get to battle for gold.
“It’s disappointing but I’ll watch it back and figure out how to fix it the next time,” he said afterwards.
“I should have been more precise with it but it’s grand.”
McCarthy had finished second in Pool B, securing four points with wins against Tomas Kosa of Slovakia and Japan’s Keisei Sakiyama in Buenos Aires.
The 2018 Games is the first time karate has been entered as an Olympic sport and McCarthy certainly made his mark.
“Amazing, I’m just over the moon,” he said.
All the hard work is paying off, so it’s great. It’s a lot different to any other tournament I’ve been to with the crowd and all the cameras and everyone watching back home. It’s different, but I was prepared.”
“My family are the only reason I’m here,” he added, with his identical twin brother Chris sitting in the crowd. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here.”
His success is Ireland’s third medal in Argentina. 17-year-old Dubliner Niamh Coyne secured silver last Thursday in the women’s 100m breaststroke, while Dearbhla Rooney won bronze in women’s featherweight boxing.
The Closing Ceremony takes place tonight in Buenos Aires with Rooney handed the honour of carrying the tricolour.
MEDAL ALERT - KARATE
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) October 18, 2018
Sean McCarthy Crean has won bronze in the Men's Kumite +68kg category at the Youth Olympic Games in #BuenosAires2018 The Corkman qualified for the semi-finals with two wins over Slovakia and Japan, but was beaten 2-1 by Morocco in the semis #TeamIreland☘️🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/n0oSwZs6sW
Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:
