Ireland’s Sporting Campus at The University of Limerick bids farewell to nine Irish Olympic and Paralympic Athletes as they head for London 2012.
The nine athletes include both UL students and graduates as well as those who use the sports facilities at the University as their training base.
President of the University of Limerick, Professor Don Barry, sent his support to the nine athletes based at UL as they travel to London ahead of competing in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“I want to wish every success to all our athletes competing in the London Olympics and Paralympics. They are part of the University of Limerick community and the students and staff of the University will be supporting them whole-heartedly.”
Colin Griffin, Grainne Murphy, Gavin Noble, Jessie Barr and Cathriona Jennings will be representing Ireland at the London 2012 Games, while Limerick local Rachel Vanderwal will represent Great Britain.
Shane Ryan, James McCarthy and Jonathon McGrath will be representing Ireland at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Other International Olympians who have undertaken their preparatory training at the University of Limerick include Jamaican hurdler Delloreen Ennis, Chilean swimmer Kristal Kobrich, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cherviyot.
The University of Limerick has also recently opened Ireland’s first residential altitude training centre. The facility provides elite sportspeople the opportunity to undertake altitude training while also availing of the world-class facilities on campus at UL.