Niamh McCarthy

Niamh McCarthy (born 4 January 1994) is an Irish Paralympic discus thrower, competing in the F41 classification, a classification for persons of reduced stature.[2][3] She is the 2018 European champion in the event at her classification and, as of August 2018, the European record holder at 31.76 metres.[1]

Niamh McCarthy
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994
County Cork, Ireland
Sport
SportPara-athletics
Disability classF41
Event(s)Discus throw
ClubLeevale Athletic Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)31.76 m[1]
32.67 m (unofficial)[2]
Medal record
Women's para athletics
Representing  Ireland
Summer Paralympics
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Discus throw F41
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2017 LondonDiscus throw F41
Bronze medal – third place2015 Doha Discus throw F41
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2018 Berlin Discus throw F41
Silver medal – second place2016 Grosseto Discus throw F40/41

Career

McCarthy started competing in discus events in 2013, winning world and European medals before taking a silver at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[4][5][6]

McCarthy won the gold medal at the European Para Athletics Championships in Berlin, August 2018, setting a new European record of 31.76 m[1][7][8]

In October 2021, McCarthy retired from competitive throwing after her participation in the deferred 2020 Paralympic Games.[9]

Personal life

McCarthy has lived in England and France.[10] is a former student of Biological and Chemical Sciences at University College Cork. She also practises sky-diving.[10][11] She has lordosis[10] and competes in F41 classification events,[10] which for women is for those under 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) in height.[12]

After discovering that none of the Irish press or TV channels had sent any journalists to the 2018 Para Athletics European Championships, Niamh decided to cover the Championships herself via her Instagram account.

References
  1. Berlin 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships - WOMEN'S DISCUS THROW F41 - FINAL (pdf) (Report). 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships.
  2. "Meet Niamh McCarthy, possibly the world's fastest learning discus thrower - SportsJOE.ie".
  3. "Niamh McCarthy RIO".
  4. "Niamh McCarthy scoops stunning discus silver". RTÉ News. 15 September 2016.
  5. ""I got what I came here for" - Niamh McCarthy relishes silver medal victory in Rio".
  6. Bailey, Ryan. "Niamh McCarthy wins Ireland's second Paralympic medal of the day". The42.ie.
  7. O'Dea, Arthur James (20 September 2018). "'This Is Elite Level Sport. Being A Paralympic Athlete Isn't Just A Hobby'". Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. "Women's discus throw F41" (PDF). 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  9. Kinnevey, Derek (28 October 2021). "Paralympic Silver Medallist Niamh McCarthy Announces Retirement". Paralympics.ie.
  10. "MCCARTHY Niamh". paralympic.org.
  11. "Silver for McCarthy & bronze for Streimikyte rounds off another successful day for Ireland at Europeans".
  12. "Page 2 « Niamh McCarthy". Paralympics Ireland.


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