Bronze boost for Deirdre Mongan and Orla Barry in Doha

Ireland’s Deirdre Mongan was upgraded to bronze following the completion of yesterday’s F53 Shot Put final at the IPC Paralympic Athletics World Championships in Doha.

Following a protest by several nations, including Ireland, the original top two finishers; Stetsyuk of Ukraine, and Nedham of Bahrain were disqualified for illegal throwing action. Deirdre’s medal brings to an impressive six the total won by this nine-strong Irish team so far.

Mongan, who returned to top level competition this year following the birth of her daughter in 2014, recorded a best of 4.02m. Commenting on the outcome national coach Dave Sweeney said: “I’m delighted for Deirdre. She’s worked so hard, showed such commitment and dedication to get herself back to be contesting the medals at this level.

“We, along with the other nations, were clear the action of the two throwers was not that of ‘putting’ the shot. They were flinging the shot rather than putting it from their body.” Further honours came from double Paralympian Orla Barry, who claimed a bronze medal in the F57 discus final.

The 25 year-old Cork athlete threw a season’s best of 29.82m with her second attempt to secure a place on the podium. This, remarkably, is the fifth major Championship medal for bilateral amputee Barry, who memorably claimed bronze at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. The event was won by world record holder Saifi Nassima of Algeria with 34.31m with reigning European champion Stela Eneva of Bulgaria taking silver with a best of 32.25m.

Afterwards Barry said: “I’m really pleased to make a world championship podium again. It’s been a long season so to save my best performance of the year for when it mattered is really satisfying. This is such a competitive class so I had to be on top form to be in with a chance; it’s a great feeling.” Wheelchair racer John McCarthy made it through the heats of the T51m 100m to advance to the later final where he finished eighth overall in a time of 25.40sec.

Waterford’s Hayley Fitzsimons finished sixth in the final of the F40 Shot Put. Fitzsimons, from Portlaw, impressively threw a PB of 5.20m with her very first attempt in competition which was her best mark of the six.

This morning Double Paralympian Orla Barry continued the impressive success of the Irish Paralympic athletics team at the World Championships in Doha claiming a bronze medal in the F57 Discus final; her fifth major Championship medal.