THE 2016 PARALYMPIC Games is just around the corner with 4,500 athletes from all over the world ready to compete in Rio. Over the course of the next week, we’ll introduce the 48 members of Team Ireland…
Triathlon and shooting
Seán Baldwin
Event: 10m Air Rifle standing, 10m Air Rifle Prone, 50m Free Rifle Prone, 50m Rifle 3×40
Classification: SH1A
Age: 48
County: Kildare
Seán Baldwin, a member of the Irish Defence Forces, became Ireland’s first Paralympic shooter in 2012 and will look to build on his experience in London for this Games. A strong showing on debut has put him in good stead ahead of Rio.
Philip Eaglesham
Event: 10m Rifle Standings, 10m Rifle Prone
Classification: SH2B
Age: 34
County: Tyrone
Philip Eaglesham first started competing in 2015 and is heading to his first Paralympics. The father of three contracted chronic Q fever, which results in impaired muscle power, whilst on tour with the Royal Marine in Afghanistan in 2011.
Catherine Walsh
Event: Para-triathlon
Classification: PT5
Age: 42
County: Dublin
Catherine Walsh is a former Paralympic medallist in pentathlon and track cycling and since London has made the switch to triathlon. Alongside her pilot Fran Meehan, the Dubliner has shown form in 2016 with a strong performance at the European Championships and claiming two golds and a bronze at the ITU World Cup events.
Fran Meehan
Event: Triathlon pilot
Age: 37
County: Offaly
Meehan has been riding with Catherine Walsh for a number of years now and the pair have enjoyed great success together.
Medal chances
Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan have a realistic chance of winning Ireland’s first triathlon medal and the form books would certainly suggest they’ll be in the running in Rio. A sixth-place finish at the World Cup in July was a good warm-up for the main event.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
