Two Irish records smashed in Para Cycling (track) this morning

Team Ireland was on fire this morning at the Para Cycling track at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome with two new Irish records on day three of the Paralympic Games. 

Ronan Grimes smashed his second Irish record of these Games. This time, the new record came in the Men’s C4 4000m Individual Pursuit qualifier with a time of 4:28.859. In spite of a fantastic performance, his fifth-place finish was just short to secure qualification for the final.  

Richael Timothy finished 10th in the qualifying round of the C1-3 500m Time Trial. Adding to the success from her opening day of competition on Thursday, she recorded a national record and a personal best with a time of 41.937. 

Ronan Grimes said, “I’m delighted, I mean, I’m a bit upset seeing the time that the French rider coming through just did (meaning he wouldn’t qualify for the final), but I’ve 4:28 for the Individual Pursuit. Before today only three riders had ever gone under 4:30. I think there will be a few more later on but to join that club I think is something I am very proud of.”  

“Last year I did a time that I didn’t think was in me and I was sick in March for the World Championships and I did a slow time. There was a bit of pressure coming on myself wanting to PB but I didn’t know if I had that in me, I came nowhere near to it in training. Credit to the coaches, they know how to get you in shape. That’s more their result as my result. They dictated the training and got that result as much as I did.” 

Commenting on the Irish support, he said, “You’d come three quarters of the track and hear nothing and then I’d get to that back straight – the roars every time. I knew they were for me. People have spent a lot of money to get here, and to come see me. To me, that’s unfathomable that somebody would actually do that. I’ll get emotional thinking of that; I really want to thank them.” 

Richael Timothy said, “I’m delighted, I couldn’t have done any more than that. 500 is obviously kind of a sprint specialist event but I said I would do it anyway – get the experience, get the warmup, all that sort of stuff.”   

“I went faster than I’ve ever gone and I kind of had a bit of a wobble at the start there as well but yeah it’s good to get that one done.” 

Looking ahead to the remainder of the Games, she added: “I suppose the road is kind of take it as it comes, anything can happen, especially in the Road Race. So I’m just going to get as much rest, recovery, we’ll get out on the road on Tuesday then see what it’s like, then hopefully we’ll all do well next week.” 

In Para athletics, Galway’s Shauna Bocquet looked right at home with the world’s best racers when she finished eighth in the fastest T54 5000m race in history this morning. 

The 20-year-old from Craughwell AC exactly matched her pre-race ranking and, while her time (11:50:85) was short of her personal best (11:07), that was due to her terrific cat-and-mouse tussle throughout with Germany’s Merle Marie Manje, who only overtook her in the final 100m 

Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner won gold in 10:43:62, knocking nine seconds off the Paralympic record previously held by American runner-up and 2020 champion Susannah Scaroni (10:45.18), with Australia’s Madison de Rozario taking bronze in 11:10.20. 

Bocquet was not in the least intimidated by the race’s ‘false start’ or the din in a packed Stade de France but knew right from the start just how blistering the pace would be. 

“That was a lot faster than yesterday’s heat, I suspected it would go out hard and it really kicked off there at the start but I’m really happy with how the race went,” she said. 

“I managed to hang on to the back of another girl and we were together for most of it. It was good, we got to work together, we took a couple of laps each.” 

“The stadium is incredible. The atmosphere was amazing. There was a lot of noise every time we came around and that really helps you. It gives you that edge you mightn’t think you would have. To be here at the Paralympic Games is amazing and to be in a final is just incredible.” 

A top 10 in the 5000m is just the start of her hectic racing schedule in Paris. 

“I have a rest tomorrow, them the 1500m heats on Monday and I am doing the 100m as well,” she confirmed. “I much prefer the longer distances so we’ll wait to see the start-list for the 1500m tomorrow and decide tactics then.” 

In Para rowing, Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell placed fourth in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls repechage with a time of 8.40.85. They progress to the B final which takes place tomorrow, September 1st at 9.10am. France and Ukraine qualified for the A final in this race with time of 8.29.61 (France) & 8.30.81 (Ukraine). 

Katie O’Brien said: “I have had a lot of injuries this year so I’m delighted to be here competing in Paris, I am enjoying the moment and giving it my all. We’re confident going into the next race.”  

Tiarnán O’Donnell said: ” It’s unreal, we are Paralympians and are delighted we get to race again tomorrow. The result isn’t what we wanted but we will go to bed tonight knowing we gave it our all. Don’t rule us out of the competition yet, we have more to give and we’re thinking beyond these games towards LA too.”  

The cheers from the Irish supporters dominated the beautiful venue at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. The two spoke about how their fans cheered them on during their warm up an hour before their race and they are so thankful to all their supports in Paris and at home in Ireland. 

Day 3 Paralympic Games Morning Results (Saturday 31st August): 

Day 3 Paralympics Games Evening Schedule (Saturday 31st August) (times subject to change)