A stunning performance from Niamh McCarthy has taken Ireland's medal tally to 9 for this year's World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin this afternoon. The final Irish competitor of these championships, McCarthy won Ireland's sixth gold medal in some style.
Competing in the Women's Discus Throw F41 final, the 24-year-old Cork athlete went one better than the silver medal she claimed at last year's World Championships in London. Winning gold while throwing a distance of 31.76, not only did McCarthy retain the European title she won in Grosseto two years ago, she broke the European record in the process.
The favourite coming into this afternoon's final, Niamh McCarthy had been in scintillating form during the weeks building up to this moment.
Record Alert!!! Niamh McCarthy @niamhmacdiscus smashes European F41 Discus Record by over 3 metres in @ParaAthletics Paris Grand Prix with new mark of 32.67m. @ParalympicsIRE @sportireland @Inst_of_Sport pic.twitter.com/y16Ol52DRN
— Field-Events Ireland (@ThrowsIreland) June 15, 2018
Joining the likes of Jason Smyth (2 golds), Noelle Lenihan (gold), Orla Comerford (2 bronze), Orla Barry (gold), Greta Streimikyte (gold) and Jordan Lee (bronze) among the Irish medal winners in Berlin, McCarthy's gold means Ireland finish with four more medals than were won at the same championships in 2016.
Adding to what has already been a stellar year for Irish sport, the country's Paralympic team have shown themselves to be a formidable outfit on the continental stage. With the World Para Athletics Championships only 15 months away, the Irish team will travel to Dubai hoping that they can recreate some of the stunning performances shown during these championships in Berlin.
