MCKILLOP SECURES IRELAND’S 5TH GOLD MEDAL OF THE LONDON PARALYMPIC GAMES
EVENING HIGHLIGHTS:
Athletics
Michael McKillop was a class apart in the final of the Men’s T37 1500m at the Olympic Stadium tonight.
McKillop set a new Paralympic record of 4:08.11 to take Gold. Australia’s Brad Scott took silver in a time of 4:14.47 and former 1500m Paralympic record holder Mohamed Charmi of Tunisia took bronze in 4:14.90
“It was great to do a double here in London. When I heard that the 1500m would be on the programme here, I was thrilled as I didn’t have this opportunity in Beijing. It means so much to be able to do this.”
“I had agreed with my coach that I would work steadily until 800m and increase the pace gradually to see who would come with me. Only the Australian did so I increased the pace again. The plan worked.”
In a closely guarded secret, Michael was presented with his 1500m Gold medal by his mother Catherine who acted as ambassador from official Games sponsors P&G.
In the Men’s T51 100m final, John McCarthy finished seventh in a time of 25.53. World record holder Toni Piispenan of Finland set a new Paralympic record time of 21.72 to take Gold with Alvise de Vidi of Italy taking Silver and Mohamed Berrahal of Algeria taking bronze.
Equestrian
Eilish Byrne narrowly missed out on bronze in the Individual Freestyle Test – Grade II at Greenwich Park. Byrne was in the bronze medal position on 75.250 with one rider to go only to be pipped to a podium place by German rider Angelika Trabert who posted 76.150 to take the bronze.
Sailing
The Irish Sonar Class sailing team of John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costelloe finished Race 5 in 10th place with the Dutch crew of Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen taking top spot. After Race 5 the Dutch maintained their healthy lead over the Australian and USA crews in joint second in the overall competition. The Irish crew held onto 11th position after Race 5.
In Race 6, the Norwegian crew of Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per Eugen Kristiansen took top billing with the French and Dutch boats completing the top three. Ireland again finished in tenth place.
In the overall standing, the Dutch crew remain in poll position but the Norwegian and French crews have pushed the Australians and Americans out of the medal positions with five races to go. The Irish crew have improved their standing by one place moving from 11th to 10th position.
COLLATED RESULTS:
Athletics
Men’s T37 1500m Final
Result: 1. Michael McKillop (IRL) 4:08.11, 2. B Scott (AUS) 4:14.47, 3. M Charmi (TUN) 4:14.90
Men’s 100m T51 Final
Result: 1. T Piispenan (FIN) 21.72, 2. A de Vidi (ITA) 22.60, 3. M Berrahal (ALG), 7. John McCarthy 25.53
Sailing
Three Person Keelboat (Sonar)
Race 5 Result: 1. Netherlands 1pt, 2. USA 2pts, 3. Greece 3pts, 10. Ireland 10pts Race 6 Result: 1. Norway 1pt, 2. France 2pts, 3. Netherlands 3pts, 10. Ireland 10pts Overall Standings: 1. Netherlands 9pts, 2. Norway 19pts, 3. France 21pts, 10. Ireland 44pts
Equestrian
Individual Freestyle Test – Grade II
Result: 1 N Baker (GBR) 82.800, 2. B Napel (GER) 77.400, 3. A Trabert (GER) 76150 E Byrne placed 4th with 75.250
