– Ryan Bailey reports from Rio de Janeiro
NIAMH MCCARTHY ROUNDED off another stellar day for Ireland in Rio as she followed fellow Cork discus-thrower Orla Barry in winning Paralympic silver.
The 22-year-old finished second in the final of the F41 category at the Olympic Stadium tonight as she added a first Paralympic medal to her World Championship bronze and European silver.
McCarthy’s performance continues Ireland’s remarkable 24 hours of competition which has seen the overall medal haul jump to nine.
The European record holder in this event left her best until the death as she surged into the podium places with a throw of 26.67 metres in her penultimate effort.
“I have few words right now,” she said. “It was a hard competition and I pulled through in the end. I got what I came here for. I wouldn’t change anything in the past few months.”
“I felt guilty wanting the others not to do well but they did throw well – I just threw better. Following my roommate Orla Barry’s success today, I don’t know how we will celebrate but it will be one of the best nights of my life for sure.”
Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili claimed gold after breaking the F41 world record with a throw of 33.38 metres.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
