Fresh from winning an Olympic Gold medal, Emma Barrett has won Bronze.
In the opening day of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Emma won Gold as part of the 25m freestyle relay team alongside Edel Armstrong, Chelsea Phillips and Damien Breslin.
She has gone on to achieve further success swimming solo to collect a Bronze medal in the 100m individual medley.
As it stands, the Ennis swimmer and Westmeath gymnast John Keenan are the only members of Team Ireland to have picked more than one medal so far in the Olympic Games which are taking place at Abu Dhabi. Megan McElherron (18) from Newry and Sally Duffy (42) from Tallaght won silver and brzone respectively in equestrian on day two.
So far, Team Ireland has won 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals. Head of Delegation, Emma McMenamin admitted the results to date were “incredible”. “What is truly special is to see the passion displayed by every one of our athletes, as they step up to compete in Abu Dhabi. All of our athletes are giving their very best and enjoying this once in a lifetime experience, and for us, that is just as important as winning medals.”
Team Ireland is represented at the Games by 91 athletes, who were selected to travel to Abu Dhabi after four years of training and competition. Supported by a volunteer management team of 39, the team join over 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 countries, there is Team Ireland also a support network of 350 family and friends, who have made the trip to show support for their athletes.
Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland was very impressed with Ireland’s impressive start to the Games. “Team Ireland has had such a strong start in the competition, achieving an incredible 10 medals in such a short space of time. With many events still to take place in the coming days, we hope that this success will give our athletes confidence as they continue through the competition”.
