Medals in mind for Ireland

Paralympics Ireland are confident they can exceed their medal targets at the forthcoming Olympics.

Performance director Nancy Chillingworth, speaking at yesterday’s multi-sport camp in the University of Limerick, said preparations for the Games have gone well and the team, which includes eight current world champions, will go to London with high expectations.

“We’re very happy with our preparations,” said Chillingworth. “We can see where our athletes are at now. Our stated medal target for the Games is five, but all going well we should exceed that.

“The focus changes as you go through the Olympic cycle — the first year people come together they’re relaxed, getting to know each other, but last November, in our previous camp, you could feel the shift, you could feel the tension creeping in — there’s no messing, put it that way.”

Chilling worth was speaking at a simulated ‘mixed zone’ being run at the training camp to familiarise athletes with the level of media focus they’re likely to face in London.

“We run a series of multi-sport camps throughout the Olympic cycle and get the London-probable athletes together from across the sports,” she said.

“Today we’ve set up a simulated mixed zone because we’re trying to replicate what happens at the Games themselves — a lot of athletes wouldn’t get this kind of focus at a world championships.

“There’s a lot more awareness of and media interest in Paralympic sport now, particularly with the Games so close, and something like this is more pertinent than it has ever been.

“Also, we have some phenomenal athletes going, with huge expectations. There are eight events on the London programme where an Irish athlete is the reigning world champion, so there’s pressure on people’s shoulders, so the more you can do to alleviate that pressure, the better.”

Though many of the events are individual sports, the camps help to build the collective spirit which is vital for the national team’s success.

“That’s certainly something we aim to build in these camps,” said Chillingworth. “At a Paralympic world championships you might have a couple of thousand people, and then you go to the Olympics, full stadium — there’s no comparison.”

Chillingworth paid tribute to those funding the team: “Renault are sponsoring the camps. We get high performance funding from the Irish Sports Council, which is essential, and we also get a lot of support in terms of service provision from the Irish Institute of Sport. We’re growing our range of sponsors and partners, too, which is great.”