The Olympics may be over, but the Paralympics are just about to begin…
There is one major difference between the Oylmpics and the Paralympics, which are under two different Governing bodies. Olympic athletes tend to be able-bodied, while the Paralympics feature athletes with disabilities such as limb deficiency, as well as vision and intellectual impairment.
There will be one Wexford woman who will be taking part in the games.
Linda Kelly, aged 30 from New Ross in County Wexford, will be taking part. Linda will be acting as a pilot for the para-cycling event.
Cyclists with a visual impairment ride in tandem with a sighted guide, known as a pilot.
On the road, Kelly won double gold at the 2023 UCI World Championships alongside Katie-George Dunlevy as well as overall victory in the UCI Para-cycling World Cup. In 2022, Kelly also won bronze at the UCI World Championships as pilot to Josephine Healion. Paris will be her first Paralympic Games.
Minster James Browne, from Enniscorthy, wished her and all of Team Ireland well in the upcoming events.
“A special shoutout to Linda Kelly from New Ross, Co. Wexford, who will be assisting as a pilot in the games. Best of luck to Linda and all our incredible athletes,” he said.
The Paralympics will take place over the next 12 days and all the action can be watched on RTE or the RTE player.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
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