Last night at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi Team Ireland picked up their first medals, 2 gold medals a bronze in all so far out of the 91 athletes. Henry McKean is out in the Gulf for us and met some of the winning athletes who won gold in Bocce (Botch Chey), a sport a little like bowling. Henry sent us this report from the desert.
Well done to Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. You can here more from them in a very special show this Bank Holiday Monday at 7am, join Henry McKean for 'Medal's in the Desert.'
Clinching the first gold medals for Team Ireland were bocce competitors Richard Currie (23) from Dungannon, Co. Tyrone; Caroline Torpey (54) from Annacotty, Co. Limerick; Matthew Brennan (35), from Ardrahan, Co. Galway and Ciara Joyce (33) from Leixlip, Co. Kildare.
Next to secure a gold were the swimmers, with an excellent performance in the 25m freestyle relay from athletes Damien Breslin (23) from Birr, Co. Offaly; Emma Barrett (21) from Ennis, Co. Clare; Chelsea Phillips (26) from Castlerea, Co. Roscommon and Edel Armstrong (23) from Navan Road, Dublin 7.
Also making waves for Team Ireland, Co. Down swimmer, Emma Carlisle (23) from Ballygowan not only bagged a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke, but also achieved an incredible personal best, shaving 12 seconds off her time.