Mixed results for Mayo athletes as Olympics draws to a close

A number of athletes with Mayo connections enjoyed mixed results at the recent Paris Olympic Games.

Ciara McGing, whose grandparents hail from Killawalla and Tourmakeady, braved illness to compete in the 10m Platform Diving preliminary round.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after finishing 29th in the opening round, McGing said she was fortunate to have made it to the diving board after being ill in the days leading up to her Olympic debut.

“I’m a bit upset and embarrassed about how I dived today because I know I am much better than that,” the 23-year-old said.

“I’ve been very ill the last 48 hours, hooked up to a drip and everything so I’m very grateful for the doctors at Team Ireland that I even got here today.

“[If it was] this time yesterday I wouldn’t have been here so I’m just proud. The [Irish athletes at the] village behind me got me here this morning.

“Just the timing was [unlucky], you can’t write it, I don’t want to use it as an excuse but obviously not the ideal situation,” she added after finishing 29th in the opening round.

However, McGing maintained that she was proud to have become an Olympian in front of a large gathering of family and friends and said she never considered withdrawing.

“It was incredible. Just to have everyone here behind me...they got me here today, it means the world,” she said.

There was also disappointment for Belmullet native Sinéád Diver, who withdrew from the marathon after running just 1.2 kilometers in over four minutes.

Diver, running for Australia in her second Olympics, succumbed to severe cramps shortly after the start of the event.

Athletics Australia confirmed that she withdrew after ‘experiencing bilateral cramping in both quadriceps’. Ten other women failed to complete Sunday’s marathon.

“She is devastated and being supported by team officials and medical staff,” an Australian Olympics Committee spokesperson said.

The organisation also denied suggestions that the 46-year-old Diver, who finished tenth in Tokyo three years ago, may have been suffering from an injury.

“Despite managing Plantar fasciitis at times this year, there was no physical reason for Sinead to not compete today,” their spokesperson continued.

Commenting on her withdrawal, Diver’s Olympic teammate Genevieve Gregson said: “Sinead’s not here to talk for herself, but all I can say is she’s obviously had a tough prep but she never made it about her, she never complained to us, she just has been one of the most supportive teammates I’ve ever had, and I love her.”

Elsewhere, Eric Favors, whose grandmother hails from Ballina, finished in 13th in Group A in the qualifying stages for the men’s shot put with a throw of 19.02 metres.

The 27-year-old, who grew up in Rocklands, New York, is only the second-ever Irish Olympian to compete in the men’s shot put and the first since 1946.

A descendant of an Irish emigrant who left Aghamore in the early 20th century also narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in sport climbing.

Colin Duffy (20), who won silver in last year’s world championships, finished fourth in the final in his discipline.

His great-grandfather, Michael Duffy, left the village of Falleighter in Aghamore in 1918 aged 19 and joined the US Navy before settling in New York.