Local ski trio scoop one Silver and Two bronze medals as Team Ireland win a total of FOUR Medals on the slopes of Schladming

21 March 2017; Team Ireland’s Cyril Walker, a member of Skiability Special Olympics Club, from Markethill, Co. Armagh, competeing during a Alpine Giant Slalom event at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games at Schladming-Rohrmoos, Stadthalle Graz, in Graz, Austria. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

21 March 2017; Team Ireland’s Caolan McConville, a member of Skiability Special Olympics Club, from Aghagallon, Co. Armagh, competeing during a Alpine Giant Slalom event at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games at Schladming-Rohrmoos, Stadthalle Graz, in Graz, Austria. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

SCHLADMING,AUSTRIA,20.MAR.17 – SPECIAL OLYMPICS, ALPINE SKIING – World Winter Games, novice, giant slalom, divisioning. Image shows Cyril Walker, Team Ireland. Photo: GEPA pictures/ Christopher Kelemen. Credit: Special Olympics.

21 March 2017; Team Ireland’s Caolan McConville, a member of Skiability Special Olympics Club, from Aghagallon, Co. Armagh competeing during a Alpine Giant Slalom event at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games at Schladming-Rohrmoos, Stadthalle Graz, in Graz, Austria. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

21 March 2017; Team Ireland’s Sean McCartan, a member of Skiability Special Olympics Club, from Carryduff, Co. Antrim, competeing during a Alpine Giant Slalom event at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games at Schladming-Rohrmoos, Stadthalle Graz, in Graz, Austria. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

TEAM IRELAND SECURE FIRST MEDALS AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES

Team Ireland have secured their first medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, with an Ulster trio amongst the medallists.

Team Ireland’s youngest athlete, Caolan McConville (13) from Co. Antrim took silver in the Alpine Intermediate Giant Slalom. Sean McCartan (16) from Co. Down and Cyril Walker (46) from Co. Armagh took bronze in the Intermediate and Novice Giant Slalom finals, respectively.

Team Ireland teammate, Lorraine Whelan (36) from Co. Wicklow scooped silver in the Intermediate Giant Slalom, while in the Novice Giant Slalom 16-year-old Laoise Kenny from Dublin secured 4^th place and Niall Flynn (30) from Dublin achieved a participation ribbon.

Commenting on the results, Caolan McConville said he was ‘Really excited’ to medal at his first Games.

“I went down the Giant Slalom and it was hard. I fell over, sadly, but I picked myself back and went really fast. I waited for another hour to get back on the slope. I didn’t fall on the last one, thank God!”

The Team Ireland skiers move on to the Slalom competition tomorrow (Wednesday 22^nd March).

There was a rest day for Ireland Team 1 in the Floorball Competition today, while Team 2 took on the Ivory Coast, putting in a fantastic performance to win 3-2.

To keep up to date with Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, follow Special Olympics Ireland and Special Olympics Ulster on Twitter, @SOIreland  @SO_Ulster and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsIreland and www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsUlster and search the hashtags, #TeamIreland #Austria2017

Special Olympics Ulster is a year-round sports training organisation and is supported by Sport Northern Ireland.