Silver For Orla Barry In F57 Women's Discus Throw At Paralympic Athletics European Championships

Orla Barry became the third Irish athlete to medal at the 2014 Paralympic Athletics European Championships in Swansea when she claimed silver in the F57 Discus today. With a best throw of 28.13m the twenty four year old Irish athlete bettered a season's best from German athlete Ilke Wyludda in third who threw a season's best of 27.63m. The gold medal was won by Bulgaria's Stela Eneva also with a season's best of 31.88m.

Speaking afterwards, Barry who is a double amputee said: "I'm really happy to win silver. I hadn't been throwing that well in training the last while so to perform far better today at a Championships when it really counts is great; I'm delighted."

National Paralympic Throws Coach Dave Sweeney added; "Orla had some serious athletes to contend with today. The German thrower she beat into bronze was a former Olympic champion and able bodied World record holder before she lost her leg a number of years ago so has an amazing pedigree in the sport. The Bulgarian who won was only competing in the F57 class for the first time having been reclassified from the less impaired F58 and was so consistent and impressive."

"Orla is a real Championship performer and she showed that again today, and that is testament and credit to her personal coach Pat Furlong also", concluded Sweeney.

Orla adds European silver to the World silver she won last year in France and after a short break will be looking forward to building on it with 2015 World Championships in Doha firmly in her sights.

Earlier on newly crowned T12 100m European Champion Jason Smyth won the second T12 200m semi-final at the Paralympic Athletics European Championships this morning in a time of 22.34sec to qualify for this afternoon's final (3.55pm) which is not to be missed.