Medal haul continues for Katie George Dunlevy & Linda Kelly winning silver in Women’s B Road Race

Katie George Dunlevy’s medal haul continued today winning silver with pilot, Linda Kelly, in the Women’s B Road Race. 

Katie-George Dunlevy & pilot Linda Kelly held a narrow lead ahead of Great Britain’s Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl until the final lap, missing out on gold by just 3 seconds. 

“I wanted to win the gold so I’m a bit disappointed, but a silver medal is amazing. It was a tough race, we were up the road with one of the GB bikes and they refused to do the work, so we were just at the front attacking on each hill trying to get away and we just couldn’t get away from them. They are sprinters. I think we had nothing left at that stage after giving so much in the hills.” 

Pilot Linda Kelly reflected on the tough battle throughout the 99.4km course, “It’s a silver medal, I’m very, very happy. We knew they were behind us and we were like, we were pushing, but then we had to ease off as well because we wanted to conserve our energy. We did get in front of them down the technical zone, they were just glued to the back of our wheel. But I’m absolutely over the moon. As I said the other day, it’s just like a dream. I’m absolutely delighted.” 

Katie-George added, “With all the setbacks and everything, it means a lot. I’m delighted. Lots of celebrations with family tonight. I’m just so proud that we’re able to get a medal like this.” 

In the same race, Josephine Healion and pilot Eve McCrystal finished in fourth place, just over two minutes away from the podium in a time of 02:42:05 marking Josephine’s last race at her debut Paralympic Games.  

Josephine said, “It was very hard, very tough, but we’re very happy with that. There’s some really strong bikes and really strong women that have been at this longer than me, I did the best I could – I give it my all. I’m not at the top of my game, not as seasoned as some of the rest of them but I want to get to that point.” 

Pilot Eve McCrystal added, “She did really well. It was probably the longest race that Josie has done, it was warm today, so we tried to just keep cooling as much as we could. We stayed with the group, and then we just got detached on the climb. Fourth was the best we could do today.”  

Speaking on her impressive para cycling journey Eve added, “It has just been amazing. I’ve got so many highs. I have six Paralympic medals now. I never thought 10 years ago that I would be here. I’m so happy to have the kids over here again today. I’m going to enjoy it with them and celebrate.” 

Josephine added, “Huge thank you to this woman for coming on board and mentoring me and guiding me throughout this journey. I’m very grateful.”  

Damien Vereker & pilot Mitchell McLaughlin placed 8th in the Men’s B Road Race.  

Speaking on the race, Damien said “It was hard for me just from the start, yeah. Just fast from the start and it was very tough. You’re just all just trying to stay on the wheel, but I enjoyed it. It’s good with this man [pilot Mitchell]. He’s the man to keep me going. And the crowds again, were just amazing and seeing the family at the end, just hearing the Irish voices means a lot.  

Pilot Mitchell McLaughlin reflected on the tough race, joking “It was hell from the start, it was pretty full on. The French were the first bike to attack during the descent. I had a plan to attack pretty early on, but I just didn’t get into the position. The climb there, just 3k from the finish, was the hardest on the course by far. It was a pretty hard race, and I am cooked but the appetite is there – I’ll be back in LA.  

Paris being Damien’s 2nd Paralympic games, the para cyclist shared his plans for the future, “I have no plans to stop you at the moment, I’ll be back. Cyclists, we’re a weird bunch – the worse it is, the more we want.”  

Earlier, a mechanical in the final lap of the Men’s C4-5 Road Race denied Ronan Grimes a much deserved high to end his cycling career on. Grimes had been in 11th place going into the final lap but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. He ultimately finished in 17th place.  

Racing around the 99.4km circuit Clichy-Sous-Bois, Paris this morning was his final appearance for Team Ireland following a fantastic Para cycling career.  

Grimes has been a longstanding member of the Team Ireland Para-cycling squad. He has now competed in two Paralympic Games – Tokyo and Pars. Competing on both the track and the road. Grimes has multiple World Championship top ten placings to his name.  

The race started at blistering speed as the attacks began on the first lap and continued throughout. Despite the speed Grimes was well positioned after Lap 1 as he crossed the line in 6th place, just 17 seconds behind the leader. It wasn’t until the third lap that a gap started to open as the lead stretched to 2:48 after 4 laps. However, Ronan was maintaining his position in the top 10 comfortably and was well positioned to improve his position as he started the final lap. 

The race was won by Ukrainian Yehor Dementyev followed in silver medal position by home favourite Kevin Le Cunff with Martin Van de Pol taking bronze for the Netherlands. 

Speaking after the race Grimes said “I’m finished now, and I’m retired. This is my last race. It was nice to finish my last race rather than finish it in the car. I’m happy, like I am, I’m a bit disappointed, like I would have liked to have finished top ten, that would have been a nice cherry on the cake, but overall, like I look back fondly on this, and yeah, like I think I can finish on it.” 

Speaking about his mechanical issue Ronan said “So I knew at that stage I was pinned on the road, which would have been a problem. You’re reliant on the official cars, and it was just unfortunate that we had a car in our group, and it just moved ahead of me when I was distanced there, and there didn’t seem to be another car in the group. My tenth position would have been a really good result in that C4, C5 race. Five minutes later I saw the group behind come by, and then the next group behind come by, and then the car was put into neutral service, and then eventually a wheel came, and I’d say the officials were upset with me wanting to finish it, but I really wanted to finish the race. I kept them waiting for a bit longer for me to finish.” 

In Para Equestrian, Galway rider Sarah Slattery and her mare Savona got Ireland off to a super start in today’s Para dressage team event in Versailles and Michael Murphy and his horse Cleverboy then followed with an even better score. 

Slattery’s 68:895% was better than the 34-year-old from Tynagh had scored in the individual Grade V test two days ago (68:401) when she only missed qualifying for tomorrow’s Freestyle final by one place. 

Murphy and Cleverboy, competing in Grade I, scored even higher (73:083) today to leave Ireland in ninth place overall, with one rider (Kate Kerr-Horan) still to come (15:12, Irish time). 

“The first day was individual and I was only riding for myself, but today I was riding for Team Ireland so I really wanted to do well for the team. I felt a little more pressure today but we finished on over 68% again and I’m really thrilled,” Slattery reflected. 

Murphy’s reaction was similar: “Regardless of the score I was super happy, because we gave everything we could for the team. In the past we’ve had better scores but I think it’s the best test we’ve ever done and I’m so glad I was able to do that for the team. Sarah had already put in an amazing performance.” 

Among his supporters were some school friends who recently unearthed a primary school yearbook in which Murphy, aged 10, wrote that his dream was ‘to go to the Paralympics in horse riding and also to be the first disabled person into space’. 

“I’m half-way there! I might tweet Elon Musk after this!” quipped the two-time Paralympian. 

Slattery’s entourage includes her husband John, and daughters Harlow (14) and 18-month-old baby Millie. 

“My family are staying in a hotel about 20 minutes from here and Paralympics Ireland kindly got accreditation for them so that I could see Millie every day. She has also been into the Athletes’ Village twice and spent time in the creche there which, as you can imagine, has loads to do and is every baby’s dream.” 

“I’ve literally had to pinch myself,” Slattery added. “When you’re in competing you don’t see the surroundings but when we were here yesterday afternoon for sound-check, that’s when it really hit me; the grandeur of it all. Standing in the middle of that arena, it was just stunning. Good luck to LA because they’re not going to be able to top this and I really hope I’ll be there.” 

In Para Swimming, Team Ireland headed to the La Défense Arena for the final time today with Barry McClements taking to the blocks for the 100m Butterfly S9 Heat. McClements, who is competing in his second Paralympic Games, advanced to tonight’s final in a time of 1:01.85, finishing third in his heat and sixth overall.  

The National Centre (Ulster) swimmer was in fourth position as he headed for home following the first 50-metres. McClements was eventually the third swimmer to stop the clock, qualifying for tonight’s final as sixth fastest in 1:01.85. The time is just shy of the 22-year-old’s lifetime best of 1:01.39, and his second fastest ever heat swim.  

Speaking after this morning’s heat, McClements said: “That felt good. There were no technical issues, the start and turn were both good. I maybe got caught out in the first couple of strokes and tied up in the last 15m, but that will be corrected tonight so I’m happy enough.” 

“My front-end speed isn’t as fast as the other guys, I always bring it back. At the Europeans I turned fifth at the wall and finished third, so my back-end speed I’m able to bring it back a bit more than the other guys. That’s my second fastest morning swim ever, so hopefully a PB tonight.” 

McClements secured his second final and Team Ireland’s 11th final at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which is set to get underway at 5:35pm (IRE). 

On the track, Aaron Shorten finished seventh in his Paralympic debut in the Men’s 1500m T20 final at the Stade de France.  

The 21-year-old ran a season’s best time of 4:02.71 in the race won by Great Britain’s Ben Sandilands who set a new world record of 3:45.40. In second place was Sandro Baessa of Portugal while rounding off the podium was Michael Brannigan of Team USA. 

Speaking afterwards, the Kildare native shared his delight at competing in his first Paralympic Games despite feeling slightly disappointed with the result. “I have mixed emotions to be honest, I was hoping for a little bit more. I would have liked to get under four minutes but all I can do is take it on the chin and keep my head up. I ran a season best in my first Paralympic Final and that’s something so I’m happy with that.”  

“There’s no better feeling than racing out in that stadium. The crowd was so loud and I heard my name being chanted, it was unbelievable. The race was very quick. I knew Michael [Brannigan] was going to take it out very quick and the plan was to go with him but I didn’t think he was going to take it out that quick, it was like an 800m! But he’s a great athlete as is Ben Sandilands and it was great to race alongside them.” 

“It’s an honour to get here, it’s always been a dream to become a Paralympian and now I have.  I want to thank my parents, my brother, my friends, everyone at home for supporting me. Everyone in Castledermot and Carlow for everything they’ve done for me. I’m over the moon to be here.” 

Day 9 Paralympics Games Morning Results (Friday 6th September) 

Day 8 Paralympics Games Schedule (Friday 6th September) (times subject to change)