Rio 2016 Northern Ireland Athletes Facebook “f ” Logo

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QUALIFIED FOR

Photo: Paralympics Ireland

RIO 2016

Name: Michael McKillop

Sport: Paralympics Ireland Athletics 1500m (T37 Classification)

Michael McKillop is the reigning double World and European Champion, and world record holder, over 800m and 1500m. At his first Paralympic Games, Beijing 2008, he won the 800m title. Four years later he successfully defended that title at the 2012 Games in London. He also won gold in the 1500m event, receiving his medal from his mother Catherine. The London Paralympics also saw Michael, who lives in Newtownabbey, presented with the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, awarded to the athlete who best exemplifies the spirit of the Games. Michael’s training and competition programme is currently supported by Sport NI’s National Lottery-funded Athlete Investment Programme and he also receives specialist support services from the Sport NI Sports Institute.

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QUALIFIED FOR

Photo: Paralympics Ireland

RIO 2016

Name: Jason Smyth

Sport: Paralympics Ireland Athletics 100m (T13 Classification)

Eglinton sprinter Jason Smyth is already a four-time Paralympic Gold Medallist, winning the 100m and 200m T13 races at both the Beijing Games in 2008 and London Games in 2012. In 2015, he won a Gold medal at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, successfully defending the title he won at the previous World Championships in 2013. He currently holds the World Record for the 100m (T13 Class) with a time of 10.46 seconds, making him the fastest Paralympian on the planet. Jason’s training and competition programme is currently supported by Sport NI’s National Lottery-funded Athlete Investment Programme and he also receives specialist support services from the Sport NI Sports Institute.

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QUALIFIED FOR

Photo: Paralympics Ireland

RIO 2016

Name: Cormac Birt

Sport: Paralympics Ireland Football

Cormac Birt will be making his Paralympic debut at the Rio Games this summer. Since transferring from GAA to football in 2011 he has established himself as a squad member for the Northern Ireland team. He was among the Northern Ireland squad players who took part in the IFCPF World Championship Qualification Tournament which saw the team successfully qualify for next year’s Finals in Argentina.

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QUALIFIED FOR

Photo: Paralympics Ireland

RIO 2016

Name: Ryan Walker

Sport: Paralympics Ireland Football

Ryan Walker, from Glenann, Co. Antrim, will compete for the Paralympics Ireland team at the Rio Games this summer, having established himself as a key player in the Northern Ireland side. He is the Northern Ireland team’s leading goalscorer, with 15 goals in 36 appearances, and was among the side that competed at the 2015 World Championship Finals in England. The 2016 Rio Games will mark Ryan’s Paralympic debut.

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QUALIFIED FOR

Photo: Paralympics Ireland

RIO 2016

Name: Philip Eaglesham

Sport: Paralympics Ireland Shooting 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH2 Classification)

Philip Eaglesham, originally from Dungannon, was introduced the sport of shooting in 2012. He competed at his first IPC Shooting World Cup in 2015 at Fort Benning, USA. Earlier this year, Philip competed at the World Cup in Thailand, finishing in 14th in the R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle and achieving two qualifying standards. Rio 2016 will be Philip’s first Paralympic Games.

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QUALIFIED FOR

RIO 2016

Name: Claire Taggart

Sport: Paralympics GB Boccia BC1 / BC2 Team Event

This summer, Larne athlete Claire Taggart will become the first athlete from Northern Ireland to compete in Boccia at a Paralympic Games. Claire started playing Boccia at Ballygally Boccia Club before making her international debut at the GB Boccia Championships in May 2014, finishing 10th in the BC4 category. Competing in Great Britain’s BC1 / BC2 Team, Claire won gold at the 2015 Boccia European Team and Pairs Championships. In November 2015, she took part in an official Paralympic Games test event in Rio, winning silver as part of the GB Boccia team. Claire’s training and competition programme is currently supported by Sport NI’s National Lottery-funded Athlete Investment Programme and she also receives specialist support services from the Sport NI Sports Institute.

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QUALIFIED FOR

RIO 2016

Name: David Leavy

Sport: Paralympics GB Football

Downpatrick’s David Leavy had his place at the Rio Games confirmed in June when he was announced by Paralympics GB as one of the 14-member squad taking part in the 7-a-side football event. He previously captained the Northern Ireland team at the 2015 World Championships and in July 2016 he scored in the team’s win against Germany which saw them qualify for the 2017 World Championship Finals in Argentina. Rio will be the first Paralympic Games for David, who receives specialist support services from Sport Northern Ireland’s Sports Institute.

QUALIFIED FOR

RIO 2016

Name: Bethany Firth

Sport: Paralympics GB Swimming 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke, 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley (S14 Classification)

Seaforde athlete Bethany Firth, who swims for Ards Swimming Club, made her Paralympic debut at London 2012 in impressive fashion, winning gold in the 100m Backstroke at just 16 years of age. The following year she won three silver medals at her first IPC Swimming World Championships. In 2014 she represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Bethany currently holds three S14 world record, in the 100m Backstroke (01:04.70, set in March 2015), 100m Freestyle (00:56.58, set in March 2016) and 200m Freestyle (02:02.09, set in June 2016) times. Bethany’s training and competition programme is currently supported by Sport NI’s National Lottery-funded Athlete Investment Programme and she also receives specialist support services from the Sport NI Sports Institute.

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QUALIFIED FOR

RIO 2016

Name: Katie Morrow

Sport: Paralympics GB Wheelchair Basketball

Originally competing in swimming, Katie was introduced to wheelchair basketball in 2013 by Disability Sport Northern Ireland’s Wheelchair Basketball Performance Officer Phil Robinson – a post funded by Sport Northern Ireland. Since then Katie has had a rapid rise through the sport. As well as competing for the Sheffield Steelers and Knights WBC, Katie has also represented Northern Ireland at the Sainsbury’s School Games, the Celtic Cup and the National Junior Championships. In 2015 she made her senior debut for Great Britain and, in the same year, helped the GB Women’s U25 Team win the World Championships and the Senior side win bronze at the European Championships. Katie’s training and competition programme is currently supported by Sport NI’s National Lottery-funded Athlete Investment Programme and she also receives specialist support services from the Sport NI Sports Institute.

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