Team primed to go for gold

Paralympic GamesEven a couple of minutes talking to an athlete such as John Fulham shows just how professional the preparation for the Paralympic Games has become.

"I train nine to 10 times a week," he says. "Mornings and evenings, including weight sessions, road work, track work and exercises with the medicine ball. I work reduced hours in a bank so I can fit everything in," he said.

"It is a lot of time to put in. It becomes your life, really - you make sacrifices, your social time is curtailed, the discipline is pretty important. I am not complaining because it is a choice you make and I love what I do. But it is hard work sometimes, it is quite difficult. At this level it is the same for everybody else, we all work this hard."

Fulham, a double European champion in the T53 athletics class, is one of those heading to the Paralympics in Athens this September aiming for a medal. In all 40 competitors were named, at a launch in Dublin yesterday, as part of the Irish team for the 2004 Games.

Athletes from eight different sports will represent Ireland in the Paralympic Games. Amongst the team are four of the five gold medallists from Sydney four years ago. Swimmer David Malone, Tom Leahy (discus), John Cronin and Gabriel Shelley (both boccia) have qualified for the 2004 Games and, it is hoped, will be part of a similarly successful campaign this time round.

Speaking at the announcement of the 2004 team in Dublin's Fitzwilliam hotel, Chef de Mission Jim McBride said that the squad was a strong one. "We have selected an extremely talented and dedicated group of athletes to represent Ireland in Athens. The team is a good mix of youth and experience and contains plenty of potential for the Games."

A total of 4,000 competitors from 153 countries will line out in the Paralympic Games, which runs from September 17th to 28th. Ireland's biggest single representation is in soccer, with 12 players travelling. Athletics will have 10 participants on the squad, boccia will have six and sailing five. Swimming has qualified three, judo has two, while equestrian and cycling have one each.

One of the underlying messages from yesterday's launch was that standards continue to rise in the Games. The number of countries taking part has increased from 123 in Sydney to 156 this time round; the total number of competitors has remained the same, though, making it more difficult for Irish athletes to qualify.

Indeed, not all of those who reached the A standard will get to travel due to this limitation on places.

Fortunately, there has been an increase in support over the past few years. Jim McBride, Paralympic Council of Ireland President Tony Guest and the Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue all spoke of the benefits of Sports Council funding, carding support and the Athens Enhancement Project in enabling the athletes to prepare. The standards may have risen, but there is still an expectation that a successful campaign is in store.

"The athletes are well poised to perform to the absolute maximum of their abilities," said Minister O'Donoghue. "I wish the team the very best in the coming months. We have every confidence that they will compete strongly, represent our country with honour and embody the highest values of sport in Ireland."

IRELAND PARALYMPIC GAMES TEAM: Athletics: L Callaghan, G Culliton, P Dockery, J Fulham, G Jameson, T Leahy, D Malone, J McCarthy, C McNamara, R Tallon. Boccia: G Shelly, K Hayes, M Murphy, R Connolly, J Cronin, G O'Grady. Cycling: M Kehoe. Equestrian: B Bernie. Football: A Brennan, A Clint, K Devlin, P Dollard, D Kavanagh, B O'Grady, A O'Hara, P O'Neill, F O'Riordan, J Markey, G Messett, J Murrihy. Judo: M Doyle, T White. Sailing: J Twomey, S McGrath, B O'Mahony, P McCarthy (travelling substitute), F Kinsella. Swimming: D Malone, C Conway, A McGlynns.