IRELAND’S DEIRDRE Mongan has been upgraded to a bronze medal at the IPC Paralympic Athletics World Championships in Doha.
Shot-putter Mongan was moved into third place in the F53 category this evening, after the initial gold and silver medallists were disqualified.
It now brings to six the number of medals secured by Ireland’s athletes at the World Championships, and speaking after the medal ceremony, Mongan dedicated the success to her baby daughter who was born in 2014.
“While I was disappointed not to throw closer to my lifetime best of 4.26m achieved earlier this year I really struggled with the heat out there today. I just felt exhausted, in those kinds of temperatures my power is really affected.
“We had a long wait on the outcome of the protests so when news came through I was just so thrilled; it’s been a long road to get back to this level after having my daughter so to medal is a brilliant feeling,” she said.
National coach Dave Sweeney said that after a long appeal process which had been lodged by several nations, they were thrilled to get the right outcome.
“I’m delighted for Deirdre. She’s worked so hard, showed such commitment and dedication to get herself back to be contesting the medals at this level. We, along with the other nations were clear that the action of the two throwers was not that of ‘putting’ the shot. They were essentially flinging the shot rather than putting it from their body, and the IPC jury agreed to ensure the right result prevailed.”
There were two Irish athletes in action in this evening’s session. Wheelchair racer John McCarthy made it through the heats of the T51m 100m to advance to the later final where he finished eighth overall in a time of 25.40sec.
Another major championship debutant, Waterford’s Hayley Fitzsimons finished sixth in the final of the F40 Shot Put, throwing a personal best of 5.20m with her very first attempt in competition which was her best mark of the six.
