A RECORD haul of seven medals capped off the Paris Olympics as Team Ireland’s most successful to date.
In the swimming pool, Ireland has made a splash with Daniel Wiffen winning gold in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m while Mona McSharry won bronze in the 100m breastroke final.
Lahinch’s Paul Talty played his part in their success as Head of Physical Preparation with Swim Ireland.
Speaking to The Clare Echo from Paris, Paul said, “What Mona and Dan have achieved is really special. This week’s results are a testament to their hard work and commitment over many years to perfecting their craft. The significance of these results for everyone in the Irish swimming community should not be underestimated.
“On a personal level, it is a huge privilege to witness all of this in person. Getting to see the Irish flag raised in an Olympic venue two days in a row is a memory that will stay with me forever. All of this is creating a great buzz around the team”.
Now living in Armagh, Paul’s involvement in Team Ireland was also referenced by All-Ireland winning Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney when he was attending the fight of Kellie Harrington in Paris.
After graduating with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from UL, he worked at Coventry University, before going to the Northern Ireland Sports Institute as a Strength & Conditioning coach.
Prior to the Olympics, he was back in the county in June and was a keen spectator at Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis where his brother Shane was elected for a second term on Clare County Council.
