Two time discus Paralympian, three time European medallist and double World Champion podium maker Niamh McCarthy called an end to her illustrious career yesterday.
Bowing out after a 5th place Tokyo accomplishment, the sky diving hobbyist has been to the moon and back since her 2013 debut and she has “loved every minute of it.”
Ireland's very own Paralympic silver medallist Niamh McCarthy, has announced her retirement from Paralympic Sport.
Since making her debut back in 2013, McCarthy has gone on to win SEVEN major medals.
Paralympic Games: 🥈
Worlds: 🥈🥉🥉
Europeans: 🏅🏅🥈#Paralympics #Discus pic.twitter.com/6RR6LgQ52E— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) October 28, 2021
“Now is the right time for me to step away from the sport having competed on the biggest stage in Tokyo one last time” she says.
“I have made great friends, seen some wonderful places and reached heights that I could only imagine when I turned up to a talent ID day back in 2013.”
"I am now going to concentrate on my own life and career away from the throwing circle but I will always have a keen interest and love for Paralympic Sport.”
Paralympic Silver Medallist Niamh McCarthy Announces Retirement.
"Now is the right time for me to step away from the sport having competed on the biggest stage in Tokyo one last time. I have loved every minute of it"— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) October 28, 2021
The President of that very organisation in this country, Eimear Breathnach has just as much appreciation to return to the discus connoisseur, commenting that she has “represented her country with distinction and has provided some wonderful moments along the way.”
“I would like to congratulate Niamh on a fantastic career and, on behalf of all in Paralympics Ireland, I would like to wish her all the best in the future’’ she says.
“Niamh has had an excellent career as one of the very best discus throwers in the world” added Dave Malone, High Performance Director at Paralympics Ireland.
“We will now work closely with Niamh to help her transition away from sport and provide all the supports that she may need for her next chapter.’’
Before the book is closed however we decided to take a look back on some of the standout moments of her career.
1.Her first medal at the 2015 European Championships
Having picked up the sport just two years earlier McCarthy won the inaugural medal in her collection in the F41class at the 2015 European Championships.
She secured a bronze position with her penultimate throw yielding her best effort of 26.67m to claim the coveted prize.
2.Silver At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Aged 22 the Cork native had progressed up through the rankings and come the build-up to the South American event found herself in third place among the world in her grade.
This time a 26.67m throw saw her conclude as the runner up to Tunisian Raoua Tlili, who broke the world record at the time with a mark of 33.38m.
3.World and European Championship podiums galore
In between number one and two the Carrigaline athlete amassed a World Championship bronze finish in Doha and a silver podium stance at the Europeans in Grossetto, but she also was victorious at some more recent competitions too.
Silver at the 2017 and bronze at the 2019 edition of the World Championships, she also was successful once again at Europeans with a gold in 2018 and 2020.
Accustomed to championing, the now 27 year old will have a stellar career to look back on now in sporting retirement.
4.Her Swansong of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
The deferred Games that took place this year may not have been the way McCarthy envisioned going out, but nonetheless her exuberant personality shone through.
A 5th placed finish in Tokyo, she acknowledged after her outing that while “other people were expecting better things” she was “happy” with her display as “it’s been a very hard few years.”
“My PB is over 30m and I’m a ways off my season best. If you just look at the result you’d be thinking if I did slightly nearer to it I could have got a medal but I don’t think I could have done more today, I did as best as I could” she said at the time.
“Had the Games gone ahead last year I wouldn’t have been in them. I’ve been trying for years to get back to where I used to be so it’s been a difficult time. I’ve changed as a person.”
“That’s not to say that those strengths aren’t in there but they’re not with me right now in the quantity that I’d like so I’m happy to just have made it to this competition. It was touch-and-go so I’m really proud of myself.”
Thanks everyone for the kind words over the last days! Tokyo2020 was a whirlwind of emotion but I wouldn’t change a thing! Also want to say a massive thank you to my longtime sponsor @FlogasIreland who have supported me for years and made this journey that bit easier! ❤️ Arigato! pic.twitter.com/0VQmcla9dy
— Niamh McCarthy (@niamhmacdiscus) September 6, 2021
