Strong Irish team Of Eight Announced For Paralympic Athletics European Championships

Paralympics Ireland has announced an eight strong team for the Paralympic Athletics (IPC) European Championships which are set to take place in Swansea, Wales from August 19th - 23rd. The team, which is sponsored by Allianz Ireland, features reigning double Paralympic champions Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop, in addition to fellow London Paralympic medallist throwers Orla Barry and Catherine O'Neill. They are joined by wheelchair racer at 100m and 400m John McCarthy, teenage long jumper and sprinter Heather Jameson, Shot Put and Javelin thrower Lorraine Regan, and newcomer to this level Andrew Flynn who races in the 5000m.

Smyth and McKillop will be confident of adding European titles to the World titles they claimed last year in Lyon, France, despite both recently recovering from injury. McKillop spent a lengthy period rehabilitating a foot injury sustained after he won the IPC World Championships last year. He recently had his first race of 2014 at a BMC meet in the UK and returned a super performance of 3.59 for 1500m. Smyth had been receiving treatment for ongoing tightness of his hamstring but clearly showed this is behind him when representing Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games recently and running 10.66 for 100m.

Reigning F57 Discus European Champion Orla Barry will be hopeful of retaining her title, having proved her credentials in the past as a major Championship performer. Fellow thrower Lorraine Regan a member of Paralympics Ireland's development panel has been in great form of late achieving a personal best in Javelin. Catherine O Neill will compete in the club throw; she is a major championship performer having won Paralympic & World Championship medals in the past.

Wheelchair racer John McCarthy who competes at 100m & 400m has been consistently bringing his times down over recent years and will be targeting a top five finish in Swansea. Heather Jameson will be looking to break 15 seconds for 100m whilst Andrew Flynn is the newcomer to the team. He will battle hard over 5000m as he did at the recent IPC grand prix in Berlin to secure European Championship qualification, and his target in Swansea will be a personal best time.

Looking ahead to the Championships Head of Paralympic Athletics James Nolan commented; "This is a very high quality team with lots of experience; six of the eight have represented Ireland at London 2012. I am confident that they have done the necessary preparatory work to achieve success in Swansea, for some that will be podium positions for others personal bests or seasons bests. Without doubt they will be competitive and rise to the challenge."

Almost 600 athletes from 49 countries will be competing at these Championships which will be held in the Swansea University International Sports Village. The Irish team depart on Friday 15th August.