Helen Kearney (born 6 June 1989) is an Irish Paralympic equestrian. She won three medals in the 2012 Summer Paralympics and also competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 6 June 1989 Wicklow, Ireland |
| Education | University College Dublin |
Early life and education edit
Kearney was born on 6 June 1989 in Wicklow, Ireland.[1] She was educated at Newbridge College.[2] When she was 10 years old, her parents enrolled her and her sister in horse riding lessons.[3] Two years later, she was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia during an operation for scoliosis.[4]
Career edit
Kearney began competed in Grade III in 2008 before being reclassified as 1A. In this classification, she won Ireland’s first European para-equestrian medal with a bronze.[5] Kearney subsequently became the first member of Para Equestrian Ireland to earn a medal in the 2011 European Championships.[6]
As a student at the University College Dublin, she qualified for the 2012 Summer Paralympics and earned three medals.[7] Kearney earned a silver medal in the Individual championship test grade Ia and a Bronze Medal in the team event.[8] Her last medal came in the Individual freestyle test grade Ia where she won bronze.[9]
In 2016, Kearney was again selected to compete with Team Ireland at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[10] During the Grade 1a Individual Championship, she finished in 12th place.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Helen Kearney". paralympics.ie. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Paralympics Sucess [sic] for Helen". newbridge-college.ie. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Niamh (26 July 2016). "The Road To Rio For Kildare's Paralympians". Leinster Leader. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "'When I am on a horse no one knows I have a disability'". The Independent. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Meet our Paralympians: Helen Kearney". rte.ie. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Kearney para equestrian medal a first for Ireland". rte.ie. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "2012 Paralympic Games triple medal winner, Helen Kearney graduates in absentia from UCD". ucd.ie. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Kearney's score secures two medals". rte.ie. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Helen Kearney wins her second medal at the Paralympic Games". rte.ie. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Helen Kearney confirmed as Irish Equestrian Athlete for 2016 Paralympic Games". horsesportireland.ie. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ @ParalympicsIRE (15 September 2016). "Result: A score of 68.870% for Helen Kearney, saw her finish in 12th place in the Grade 1a Individual Championship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links edit
- Helen Kearney at the International Paralympic Committee
- Helen Kearney at Paralympics Ireland (archived 2016 profile)
- Helen Kearney at Paralympics Ireland (archived 2012 profile)