RACHEL LIFTS HER WAY TO WORLD CHAMPION STATUS

CORK Institute of Technology paid tribute in recent days to Banna powerlifting sensation Rachel O’Mahony after she won medals and broke record galore at her sport’s World Championships in Virgina, USA.

Rachel and fellow CIT student Ross O’Connor – Dunmanway, County Cork – enjoyed a President’s Reception from Dr Barry O’Connor. Between them, they won four gold medals stateside at the World Championships last month.

Rachel is a Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Technology Student and is currently in the fourth year of her course.

But between all the study, she devotes herself to the sport she loves – with much reward to show for it.

She set an Irish record in winning a gold medal in the Strict Curl (27.5 kilogrammes), and repeated this double in the 55-kilogramme bench.

And as if she hadn’t achieved enough, she also smashed an Irish record in the 67.5-kilogramme junior division.

At the reception, Dr O’Connor praised what he described as a “remarkable success”.

“Ross and Rachel are excellent ambassadors for CIT and a terrific example to all students,” he said.

“[Their] attention to detail, organizational skills, and hard work resulted in this remarable success. They left no stone unturned in the pursuit of success, and this latest success on the world stage is richly deserved.”

The duo also received praise for their ongoing promotion of the sport, particularly within CIT itself.

World Champion Power Lifter Rachel O’Connor from Banna with fellow world champ and CIT student Ross O’Connor, President of CIT Dr Barry O’Connor and CIT Registrar Dr Áine Ní Shé.