On Saturday evening, 6th September 2008, the Games began with a breathtaking opening ceremony at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing with Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China declaring the 13th Paralymic Games to be underway. In front of 90,000 people, Ireland’s flag bearer, six-time Paralympian Patrice Dockery, proudly led out the 45-strong Irish team.
There are 4 athletes with vision impairments who are competing in swimming, tandem cycling and athletics (sprinting) in this year’s Paralympic Games.
- Tandem Cycling: Michael Delaney from East Wall in Dublin, along with his Pilot David Peelo from Bray, Co. Wicklow.
- Tandem Cycling: Catherine Walsh from Swords, Co. Dublin, along with her Pilot Joanna Hickey from Rathfarnham, Dublin.
- Swimming: Stephen Campbell from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
- Athletics: Jason Smyth from Eglinton, Northern Ireland.
Sunday 7th September 2008
Tandem pair Michael Delaney with sighted pilot David Peelo went straight into action and recorded a 13th place in the 4km Individual Pursuit.
Tandem pair Catherine Walsh with sighted pilot Joanna Hickey also set a new Irish record (1:16.208) in the final of the women’s 1km time trial with 2 seconds off their previous best.
Monday 8th September 2008
Michael Delaney and sighted pilot David Peelo returned to the track in the 1km time trial where they recorded a time of 1.08.593, also a new Irish record, taking 1 second off their previous best.
Tuesday 9th September 2008
At the Velodrome in Laoshan, the Irish cycling team continued their success with Catherine Walsh and her sighted pilot Joanna Hickey setting a new Irish record in the Women’s Individual Pursuit with a time of 3.50.515, shaving over 2.5 seconds off their previous best, finishing 5th overall.
Following this, Tyrone’s Stephen Campbell made his Paralympic debut in the 100m butterfly (S11 Class) heats at the National Aquatic Centre in Beijing with a time of 1.16.28 and finishing 10th overall.
Wednesday 10th September 2008
Irish tandem cyclists Michael Delaney and sighted pilot David Peelo finished 5th in the Men’s Sprint event over 200m. They defeated their Canadian rivals in a thrilling 5th or 6th place race off.
Michael and David were delighted with their performance having set a new Irish record with a time of 11.460 seconds in the qualification stages.
Thursday 11th September 2008
Stephen Campbell, Irish swimmer, performed brilliantly in the 400m Freestyle event (Class S11). In the second of two heats, Campbell reached the 200m mark in 2.37.99, and maintained this electric pace to clock a new Irish and personal record in 5.28.43 destroying his previous best by over six seconds. Campbell’s wonderful swim was good enough for 6th in his heat and 10th overall.
Friday 12th September 2008
The afternoon saw both Irish tandem cyclists in action in their road time trial events. Catherine Walsh with sighted pilot rider, Joanna Hickey took 7th place with a time of 40.09.67 while Michael Delaney with sighted pilot rider David Peelo completed the course in a time of 36.26.54, taking 18th place overall.
In his final showing of these Games, Stephen Campbell finished 6th in the third heat of the 100m Freestyle (S11 Class) to finish 15th overall and with two new Irish records from three events, Campbell can walk away from these Games with a smile on his face.
Saturday 13th September 2008
Jason Smyth Ireland’s 100m Paralympic Athlete wins gold in world record time.
Read more about Jason’s victory
Sunday 14th September 2008
In the spectacular Ming’s Tomb road cycling venue, the last of Ireland’s cyclists were in action today. Catherine Walsh with sighted pilot rider Joanna Hickey and Michael Delaney with sighted pilot rider David Peelo, both took part in the Road Race. Delaney and Peelo covered the 96.8km distance in a time of 2.29.32, finishing in 16th place, 14 minutes behind the winners Poland bringing to an end an excellent competition for the Irish cycling team at these Games achieving numerous personal bests, Irish records and high finishes at these 2008 Games.
Tuesday 16th September 2008
Another GOLD for Irish Paralympic Athlete Jason Smyth
Tremendous celebrations followed the outstanding performances by Irish athletes in the Paralympic Games 2008. Well done to all the competitors.