Ireland have won two gold medals at the Paralympics in Sydney today after Gabriel Shelly won gold in the mixed BC1 classification in boccia and Tom Leahy's silver medal was upgraded to gold. Shelly, from Bagnelstown celebrating his 32nd birthday today, beat Antonio Cid of Spain in a tight, tough final, winning 4-3 with the last ball, cheered on by hoards of screaming Irish fans. His trainer, Liam Harbington, paid tribute to Shelly: "He left it late in the early rounds and struggled through Saturday and Sunday. But we discovered a problem which we put right, and it all worked well in the end."
His mother, Mrs Patricia Shelly, speaking to Des Cahill on RTE Radio, was thrilled when she heard the news. "He's spent his life dedicated to sport. I am so happy for him as he's tried so, so hard. It's absolutely brilliant," she said. Shelly, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, failed to win a medal at the Atlanta Olympics but took silver at the world championships and was considered a strong medal hope for Ireland at these Games.
Meanwhile, Cork's Tom Leahy who won silver in the Cerebral Palsy discus last Saturday has had his medal upgraded to gold after the British team registered a successful complaint that the Pole who won gold was not as disabled as the class required and he was disqualified. Therefore, Leahy moved up to gold and the British athlete who finished fourth took the bronze. On the track today, Limerickman John Fulham has reached the final of the 200 metres.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
