Meet Northern Ireland’s Paralympians at Paris 2024 Larne's Claire Taggart is Boccia World Champion
Larne's Claire Taggart is Boccia World Champion Keith Bailie Yesterday at 12:13
BOCCIA
Claire Taggart – Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland star Claire Taggart
Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland star Claire Taggart
Age: 29
Hometown: Larne, Antrim
Disability: Dystonia
Sport Class: BC2
Previously classified as BC4, Claire was reclassified to a BC2 player and was selected to join the Boccia UK World Class Programme in 2015. Competing in Rio 2016, Claire made history by becoming the first person from Northern Ireland to compete at the Paralympics in the sport of Boccia. She was just 21 years old, and she reached the quarter-final stage of the Mixed Team BC1-2 event.
Claire became World Champion at the 2022 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, winning in the same venue that she made her first Paralympic Games appearance in 2016.
When is she in action?
August 29, 17:10 – vs Joselyn Leon (Ecuador)
August 30, 19:30 – vs Cristina Goncalves (Portugal)
August 31, 18:35 – Quarter-Final
September 1, 10:55 – Semi-Final
September 1, 18:35 – Final
PARA SWIMMING Dearbhaile Brady of Ireland during a training session at the Paris La Défense Arena in advance of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Dearbhaile Brady of Ireland during a training session at the Paris La Défense Arena in advance of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Dearbhaile Brady – Ireland
Age: 17
Hometown: Feeny, Derry
Club: Limavady Swim Club
Disability: Hypochondroplasia (Short Stature)
Sport Class: S6, SB6, SM6
The youngest member of Team Ireland has been making rapid progress. She only represented Ireland for the first time at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester but struck a blow when winning bronze in Madeira at the 2024 European Championships for a first international podium.
When is she in action?
August 29, 09:43 – 50m Freestyle Heats
August 29, 18:19 – 50m Freestyle Final
September 3, 09:15 – 50m Butterfly Heats
September 3, 17:05 – 50m Butterfly Final
Barry McClements – Ireland Barry McClements of Ireland during a training session at the Paris La Défense Arena
Barry McClements of Ireland during a training session at the Paris La Défense Arena
Age: 22
Hometown: Newtownards, Co Down
Club: Ards Swimming Club
Disability: Right above knee amputation
Sport Class: S9, SB8, SM9
The Newtownards swimmer is heading for his second Paralympic Games, having competed in Tokyo where he finished seventh in the 100m backstroke S9. However, injury almost derailed his Paris bid after his prosthetic came undone and he cracked his exposed femur last autumn.
McClements has developed a happy knack for picking up medals. He won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the S9 100m backstroke, becoming the first Northern Irish swimmer to medal at the Commonwealth Games. He won his first European medal at the 2024 Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira. He had his right leg amputated above the knee due to a rare birth defect called fibular hemimelia when he was 10-months-old.
When is he in action?
September 3, 08:38 – 100m Backstroke Heats
September 3, 16:37 – 100m Backstroke Final
September 6, 09:18 – 100m Butterfly Heats
September 6, 17:35 – 100m Butterfly Final
Deaten Registe – Ireland An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD meets with Ireland atheltes including swimmer Deaten Registe
An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD meets with Ireland atheltes including swimmer Deaten Registe
Age: 20
Hometown: Dungannon, Co Tyrone
Club: Lisburn City Swimming
Club Disability: Intellectual impairment
Sport Class: S14, SB14, SM14
A powerful athlete, Registe is being thrown in at the deep end after only making his first major international performance at the Europeans in Madeira where he placed fourth in the 100m breaststroke final.
When is he in action?
September 2, 09:33 – 100m Breaststroke Heats
September 2, 17:13 – 100m Breaststroke Final
PARA TRIATHLON
Judith MacCombe – Ireland Para-triathlete Judith MacCombe, right, and her guide Eimear Nicholls
Para-triathlete Judith MacCombe, right, and her guide Eimear Nicholls
Age: 29 Hometown: Claudy, Co Derry
Club: North West Tri Club
Disability: Vision impairment Sport
Class: PTVI 3
Making her Paralympic debut with her guide Eimear Nicholls. She took up triathlon just over five years ago and competed in the in the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Qualified for Paris 2024 ninth in the world rankings.
She is a twin sister of team-mate Chloe MacCombe. The sisters have a form of albinism which affects their vision. Judith’s guide is 42-year-old Portstewart native Eimear Nicholls.
When is she in action?
September 2, 09:10
Chloe MacCombe – Ireland PPara-triathlete Chloe MacCombe, right, and her guide Catherine Sands
PPara-triathlete Chloe MacCombe, right, and her guide Catherine Sands
Age: 29 Hometown: Claudy, Co. Derry
Club: North West Tri Club
Disability: Vision impairment
Sport Class: PTVI 3
MacCombe, along with guide Catherine Sands, are heading for their first Paralympic Games but do so ranked as the number three pairing in the world, quite the progress seeing as she took up triathlon just over five years ago. Chole’s guide is Rostrevor woman Catherine Sands.
When is she in action?
September 2, 09:10
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY David Ross
David Ross
David Ross – Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Age: 29
Hometown: Belfast
Club: London Wheelchair Rugby Club
Disability: Spinal Injury
Sport Class: 2.0
Whilst playing rugby in 2013 aged just 18, Ross sustained a spinal injury during a ruck.
After leaving hospital, he joined a wheelchair rugby and was instantly hooked. In 2019 after finishing his studies and wanting to focus on increasing his training, Dave moved to England, joining London wheelchair rugby and was also invited to became part the GB talent pathway.
Following a few years of hard work both on and off the court, Dave became part the long squad in 2021 and made his GB international debut at the 2022 Canada Cup.
When is he in action?
August 29, 10:30 – vs Australia
August 30, 10:30 – vs Denmark
August 31, 18:30 – vs France
September 1 – Semi-Final
September 2, 18:30 – Final
by Martysghost
1 comment
[https://www.channel4.com/programmes/paris-2024-paralympics-meet-the-athletes/on-demand/76893-008](https://www.channel4.com/programmes/paris-2024-paralympics-meet-the-athletes/on-demand/76893-008)
This is an interview with Claire Taggart, you have to be logged in to view it but its really worth a watch, didn’t want to include this in the main post so it meet the posting rules. Claire also has a few/interviews and content on the Paralympics YouTube Channel.