Medals galore at World Games
PLENTY of memories were made at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin with Team Ireland returning a haul of 75 medals through 73 athletes.
Athletes landed to rapturous celebrations in Dublin Airport on Tuesday, having competed across 12 sports in the space of a week in Germany.
Among the celebrations were a heap of local faces, including the gold medal winning Ireland Women’s Basketball five-a-side team which included several Palmerstown Wildcats players.
Last Saturday, the team seized gold after displaying superb cohesion and control to get 9-4 ahead in the third quarter and extend their lead to 13-6 with two-minutes left.
In an action-packed gold medal match, Palmerstown Wildcats baller Anita Forde hit seven points while her clubmate Lauren Campbell, from Walkinstown, hit a two-pointer.
Team Ireland’s Timothy Morahan, a member of South Dublin Sports Club, from
Dublin 6, with his coach Paddy Slattery, left, and father John Morahan, right (Image: Sportsfile)
Wildcats’ Louise Day also got on the scoresheet and Tekhisti Abbay played her part in helping Team Ireland to a 17-8 victory against Azerbaijan.
On the same day, the Men’s seven-a-side team also stormed to a gold medal and local United Warriors competitors Omer Teko and David Hackett had their say in the final.
Hackett and Teko each started the final against Morocco, with Team Ireland, which is assistant coached by Rathcoole’s Philip Rooney, claiming the spoils.
The lads overcame the tough opposition of Switzerland, Uganda and Hong Kong in the groups before beating Morocco and Poland in the competition rounds en route to the gold medal match.
Team Ireland’s Ailis Colgan, from South Dublin Special Olympics Club, from Templeogue, at the
start of her Rhythmic Ball qualifier on day four of the games (Image: Sportsfile)
Ballyfermot man Keith Doyle starred as part of the ten pin bowling team, winning a silver medal in Men’s Doubles alongside Martin Murray, who also won gold in the Men’s Singles competition.
The 39-year-old, who is a member of Metro South Bowling Club, has been active in Special Olympics bowling for 20 years and added to the medal haul.
Michael Mason, who is a member of South Dublin Strikers which operates out of the Leisureplex in Tallaght, is assistant coach of the Team Ireland bowling team.
Templeogue native Ailish Colgan, who is a South Dublin Special Olympics Club competitor, competed in gymnastic while Timothy Morahan from South Dublin Sports Club, seized gold in the Long Jump.
