Not even heart surgery could keep Claire from competing at Games

THE uplifting stories at these Special Olympics continue to multiply. Another came to light at the RDS yesterday as Ireland’s female rhythmic gymnasts paraded their haul of medals and ribbons after the awards ceremony.

Ten golds, 10 silvers, seven bronze and three ribbons was the tally for the six competitors, with Eithne Gormley’s five gold medals being the pick of a very impressive bunch.

Standing amidst the coaches, athletes, family members and well-wishers was little 16-year-old Claire McNamara, an athlete from Crecora in Co Limerick.

Claire takes four silver medals and a bronze home to Munster. Yet as we’ve been told every day since these Games began, it isn’t the winning but the taking part that counts.

Never has that been more true than in Claire’s case as her greatest achievement was just getting to the Games.

Eleven months ago, Claire was due to visit Dr Freddie Wood in Crumlin Hospital in Dublin to undergo major heart surgery. That was put off due to the death of her grandmother. Ironically, the fact she did not need to recuperate from an operation at the time meant she could participate in the national games where she won gold and qualified for the Special Olympics.

The need to operate couldn’t be postponed forever though and Claire eventually underwent the surgery just three months ago. Four weeks later she was in training for this week.

“It was just by chance she got the opportunity to compete,” her father Jim said. “That enabled her to go to the national games where she won gold which qualified her for the Special Olympics.

“She has a congenital heart defect which meant she didn’t have a lot of energy before the operation. Dr Freddy Wood and Dr Duffy performed the operation and because of that she’s had the chance to be here today and we’re all very proud of her.”

For Mary Fitzpatrick, the Irish rhythmic gymnastics coach, it was a day that couldn’t be topped.

“It’s a huge medal haul. They have all done very well and I’m delighted for them. They are more lucky that they can compete in more than one event, like, say, the footballers. They compete in the four individual events (floor, hoop, ball and ribbon) and if you compete in all four events you’re allowed to enter the all-round event too. That’s why they have a fifth medal or a fifth award each, from the combination of scores. They have done exceptionally well.”

For the record, the super six were Frances Dalton, Meghan O’Halloran, Claire McNamara, Siobhan Kelly, Rhoda Nesbitt and Eithne Gormley.