Cathy and Katie star in Dublin’s special showcase
CATHY Dullea and Katie Moloney qualified for the Special Olympic Ireland Games which took place in Dublin last week. This was a huge achievement for both athletes. They both trained really hard for months to prepare for the games.
There were over 1,600 athletes taking part over the four days – and what an experience the girls had. It was not easy for them as they not only had to compete against the best in Ireland, they were away from home for four days.
Cathy and Katie were the VIPs for the four days. All the traffic in Dublin was stopped while they were being bused to the opening ceremony in Tallaght Stadium, and they were welcomed into the stadium by rapturous applause. They were entertained by Des Cahill and Ian Dempsey, Jake Carter, and others, and even the President and his wife made an appearance to welcome them. The Olympic flame was lit and they were even treated to a flyover by the Air force.
Over the next few days they battled hard in their races, and on Saturday the final came for the 200m.
Katie lined up on the track, and when the gun went off she put all the training to good use and sprinted down the home straight. She was over the moon to be awarded the gold medal in her division. Her parents, Helen and Mick, and her sister, Kira, were there shouting her on all the way to the finish – a very proud moment for them.
Next up it was Cathy’s turn. She lined up in a very competitive final, and she gave it 100 per cent. It was very close at the finish line with very little separating the athletes. Cathy was awarded fourth place and was over the moon to have achieved a new personal best time over 200m. Her parents, Cathleen and Dan, and her brother, Denis, were roaring her all the way to the finish and again were very proud of Cathy’s achievement.
On Sunday both girls took to the track in the 100m, but this time it was very wet. Although it was miserable weather they knew they had trained hard and would give 100 per cent.
Katie was first up in her division, and she sprinted up the home straight and was delighted with her fourth place finish while her parents shed a tear of joy at her achievement.
Cathy lined up in a very competitive division and worked really hard, gritting her teeth and never giving up all the way up the home straight. She crossed the finish-line in fifth place and again achieved another new personal best time.
Cathy also lined up in the Team Munster relay. She was the first runner and gave her team the best possible start as they collected the bronze medal.
Both the Muskerry Special Olympic girls did Team Munster, themselves, their coaches, their club and their parents very proud, coming home with one gold medal, one bronze, two fourth places, a fifth place, as well as personal bests.
An amazing achievement by two amazing athletes.