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Belfasttelegraph

News [1]
Opinion [2]
Business [3]
Sport [4]
Life [5]
Entertainment [7]
Travel [8]
Sunday Life [9]

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are a periodic series of international multi-sport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities.

Hannah Peel with the Paraorchestra. Credit: York Tillyer

Tales of the Paraorchestra

In September 2018, Hannah Peel was in tears on the stage of the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. She was responding to the sound of a human voice, singing beautifully, making an intense connection.

Experienced name: James Whitley is competing in his third Paralympic Games. Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

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Northern Irish paralympian James Whitley feels for expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus

Northern Irish Paralympic skier James Whitley admits he is gutted for the Russian and Belarusian athletes who have been forced out of the Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Award is recognition of Northern Ireland’s world standing, insists Jonathan Rea

Record-breaking six-time World Superbike champions Jonathan Rea and Paralympic multiple gold medallists Bethany Firth and Jason Smyth head the glittering list of Northern Ireland sportspeople who achievements have been recognised in the New Year’s honours list.

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Viewpoint Opinion Northern Ireland honours recipients deserving

It has long been fashionable to decry the honours system as redolent of a bygone era; a bad fit in the democratised present.

Michael McKillop celebrates 1,500m T37 gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Credit: Getty Images

It’s been a hard decision but time is right for me to retire, says Paralympics legend Michael McKillop

Paralympics legend Michael McKillop has announced his retirement, describing it as “one of the hardest decisions (he’s) had to make” in his life.

Kelly Gallagher (right) celebrates her gold medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games with guide Charlotte Evans. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Kelly Gallagher explains ‘unexpected’ retirement as 2014 Paralympic gold hero calls time on stunning skiing career

Northern Ireland’s Paralympic Games hero Kelly Gallagher MBE has opened up on the “lovely reason” she has retired.

Jason Smyth arrives home at Belfast City Airport to his wife Elise and daughters Lottie and Evie. Credit: INPHO/Presseye/Kelvin Boyes

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Jason Smyth: I want to show my girls anything is possible by winning more Paralympic gold in Paris

Legendary sprinter Jason Smyth has revealed the driving forces behind his desire to go for a SEVENTH Paralympic gold medal in 2024 — family, history and personal standards.

Big plans: James Whitley has joined Team BRIT, which wants to become the first all-disabled team to compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race

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Born with no hands… but that won’t stop me driving for glory at Le Mans

James Whitley has never regarded being born without hands as a disadvantage.

Team GB pose during the men’s Wheelchair Basketball medal ceremony after receiving their bronze medals. Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty

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Viewpoint Opinion Paralypians return with medals and admiration

Northern Ireland’s medallists have been celebrated for their success as the Paralympics in Tokyo came to a close yesterday.

Race is run: Michael McKillop is consoled after his race. Credit: John Walton/PA

‘It’s just devastating’: Michael McKillop on ‘heartbreaking’ end to a stunning Paralympic Games career

An emotional Michael McKillop said he was bidding farewell to the Paralympic Games after finishing a disappointing eighth in the T38 men’s 1500m final.

Welcome home: Bethany Firth is greeted by her dog Russell at Belfast City Airport last night. Credit: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

Success for NI Paralympians ‘inspiring’ as games come to a close

Northern Ireland’s Paralympians have been celebrated for their success as the Games in Japan came to a close yesterday.

Fully charged: Bethany Firth excelled in in the Women’s 100m backstroke. Credit: Getty Images

Nothing is impossible with faith, says Firth

Bethany Firth came into the Paralympics under-cooked but her raw determination made sure she came away with gold.

Success: Bethany Firth with her gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympics. Credit: PA

Golden girl Bethany Firth celebrated with pizza, reveals proud mum

Bethany Firth has celebrated her sixth Paralympic gold with pizza and junk food and will head away on holiday next week after coming out on top in the S14 100m backstroke final.

Bethany Firth celebrates with yet another Paralympic gold medal. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

‘I really wanted that’: Bethany Firth wins sixth Paralympic Games gold medal with 100m backstroke hat-trick

Bethany Firth has won her sixth Paralympic Games gold medal by coming out on top in her signature event, the S14 women’s 100m backstroke, by almost one second with a commanding performance.

James MacSorley on verge of medal success after Team GB triumph

James MacSorley is one win away from a Paralympic medal after his Team GB side cruised past Canada in the wheelchair basketball quarter-finals.

James MacSorley in action for Team GB at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Paralympic Games: James MacSorley’s Team GB one win away from medal as Bethany Firth prepares for backstroke defence

James MacSorley is one win away from a Paralympic medal after his Team GB side cruised past Canada in the wheelchair basketball quarter-finals.

Bethany Firth MBE was surprised to land an IM medal despite her interrupted training. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

Bethany Firth surprised to win another Paralympic silver to stretch stunning medal tally

Bethany Firth admitted she “didn’t expect much’” as she won her third medal of the 2021 Paralympic Games with a silver in the S14 Women’s 200m IM.

Ireland's Nicole Turner celebrates winning her silver medal

This is the best say of my life, beams Nicole Turner after silver joy in S6 butterfly

Nicole Turner has described winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympians at the best day of her life.

2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games Monday - Swimming, Tokyo Aquatic Centre, Tokyo, Japan 30/8/2021 Men's S9 100M Breaststroke Final Ireland's Barry McClements on after finishing 7th Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Paralympics: Barry McClements makes first Games final as Claire Taggart turns sights to team event

Barry McClements finished seventh in the S9 men’s 100m backstroke with a personal best time on Monday after making it through to his first Paralympic Games final.

Golden smile: Bethany Firth won gold in the 4x100m Mixed Relay S14 on Saturday. Credit: PA

Bethany Firth hoping backstroke will ‘click’ at right time for hat-trick of Paralympic golds

After a torturous year of preparation, Bethany Firth looks as if she is coming to the boil at the Paralympics in Tokyo.

Close call: Jason Smyth (right) just edged out Skander Djamil Athmani of Algeria in the 100m T13 Final. Credit: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

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It’s the joy of six for sprint king Jason Smyth

Jason Smyth cemented his reputation as Ireland’s best sprinter as he sealed a record-equalling sixth visually-impaired Paralympic gold medal yesterday.

Bethany Firth celebrates after winning gold. Credit: Tim Goode/PA

Top of the world… NI athletes Bethany and Jason both grab gold

It was a golden weekend for Northern Ireland’s Paralympians as two topped the podium at the Tokyo Games.

Golden girl Beth has made us all so proud

The proud mum of Paralympian Beth Firth has revealed the swimmer overcame injury setbacks, icy water and swimming with insects to bag her fifth Paralympics gold medal.

Bethany Firth (second from left) with her team-mates Reece Dunn, Jessica-Jane Applegate and Jordan Catchpole. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Bethany Firth wins fifth Paralympic gold medal as Team GB clock world record relay time

Bethany Firth has landed her fifth Paralympic gold medal as she helped her Team GB to a world record performance in Tokyo.

Showing medal: Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand, Ellen Keane of Team Ireland and Adelina Razetdinova of Team RPC. Credit: Sam Barnes / Sportsfile

How swimmer Ellen Keane beat anxiety to clinch Tokyo delight

Her life will not be defined by what happened in a race lasting 80 seconds in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre yesterday. Still, Ellen Keane becoming Ireland first Paralympic gold medallist at the 2021 Games represents another milestone in the remarkable career of the 26-year old Clontarf swimmer and disability rights advocate.

Medals of honour: Northern Ireland ace Bethany Firth proudly shows off her Paralympic medals. Credit: Brian Thompson

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Paralympic Games

Tales of the Paraorchestra

Northern Irish paralympian James Whitley feels for expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus

Award is recognition of Northern Ireland’s world standing, insists Jonathan Rea

Viewpoint Opinion Northern Ireland honours recipients deserving

It’s been a hard decision but time is right for me to retire, says Paralympics legend Michael McKillop

Kelly Gallagher explains ‘unexpected’ retirement as 2014 Paralympic gold hero calls time on stunning skiing career

Jason Smyth: I want to show my girls anything is possible by winning more Paralympic gold in Paris

Born with no hands… but that won’t stop me driving for glory at Le Mans

Viewpoint Opinion Paralypians return with medals and admiration

‘It’s just devastating’: Michael McKillop on ‘heartbreaking’ end to a stunning Paralympic Games career

Success for NI Paralympians ‘inspiring’ as games come to a close

Nothing is impossible with faith, says Firth

Golden girl Bethany Firth celebrated with pizza, reveals proud mum

‘I really wanted that’: Bethany Firth wins sixth Paralympic Games gold medal with 100m backstroke hat-trick

James MacSorley on verge of medal success after Team GB triumph

Paralympic Games: James MacSorley’s Team GB one win away from medal as Bethany Firth prepares for backstroke defence

Bethany Firth surprised to win another Paralympic silver to stretch stunning medal tally

This is the best say of my life, beams Nicole Turner after silver joy in S6 butterfly

Paralympics: Barry McClements makes first Games final as Claire Taggart turns sights to team event

Bethany Firth hoping backstroke will ‘click’ at right time for hat-trick of Paralympic golds

It’s the joy of six for sprint king Jason Smyth

Top of the world… NI athletes Bethany and Jason both grab gold

Golden girl Beth has made us all so proud

Bethany Firth wins fifth Paralympic gold medal as Team GB clock world record relay time

How swimmer Ellen Keane beat anxiety to clinch Tokyo delight

‘I swim because I love it’: Bethany Firth explains motivation ahead of another Paralympic glory bid

Busy Ronan Grimes is aiming to steer towards Paralympic medal glory

Paralympics: Ards swimmer Barry McClements edged out of final spot on Games debut

Northern Ireland’s magnificent seven targeting Tokyo glory

Jason Smyth keen to keep Paralympic dream going beyond Tokyo