Paralympic Bronze for Noelle Lenihan
North Cork AC's Noelle Lenihan Takes Bronze in Paralympic F38 Discus Final
Saturday September 17th 2016
Photo:RTE
Tonight, North Cork AC's Noelle Linehan was the final Irish athlete into the arena at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Making her Paralympic debut, in the F38 Final, 16 year old Noelle, from Milford, threw 31.71m in Round 1. This was to be her best throw and was good enough for Bronze. Both the Gold and Silver medalists were competing in the F37 category, so Noelle's first throw of 31.71m stands as a Womens F38 Paralympic Record.
Speaking to RTE, Noelle said “The competition was tough but there was a great atmosphere from the crowd, which really help with the performance.” Speaking about the pressure “I’m doing what I love to do.” “I always tried to keep busy and not sit down and think about it,” “I was just thinking of myself, block out what’s around me and focus on myself and what I can do to improve my throw.”
She thanked her father: “I was just thinking I have to do this for him because he’s not here.” “I can’t wait to see him. I want to thank him for so much for what he has done for me. He has been brilliant.” “We are a team and I can’t wait to go home to him. He’s probably crying his eyes out somewhere and that’s not even a joke. I come from a huge family and they’re more than proud already but I’m so happy to be able to go with a medal.”
On the Homecoming to Charleville: “It’s is going to be mad, I can’t wait to go home to them because they’re going to go crazy. I can’t wait.”
The Gold was won by Mi Na who threw a stunning F37 World Record of 37.50 with her opening round throw. Local heroine, Shirlene Coelho, set a Brazilian Record of 33.91 in her final round throw, and take the Silver medal.
Noelle is the current World Record Holder for the F38 Discus. In addition, she holds a Silver medal from the 2015 World Championships, and is the current European Champion, having won Gold in Grosetto, Italy, earlier this summer.
| Medal | Athlete | Country | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | Rd 6 | Mark |
| Gold | Mi Na | China | 37.60m WR | X | 37.11 | 34.71 | X | - | 37.60 |
| Silver | Shirlene Coelho | Brazil | 31.50 | 32.55 | 32.39 | 33.31 | 32.74 | 33.91 | 33.91 |
| Bronze | Noelle Lenihan | Ireland | 31.71 | 29.17 | 27.81 | 31.08 | 30.22 | 31.08 | 31.71 |
