Helen Kearney

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.

Helen Kearney
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (1989-06-06) 6 June 1989
Wicklow, Ireland
EducationUniversity College Dublin
Medal record
Representing  Ireland
Paralympic Games
Equestrian
2012 London Individual championship test grade Ia
2012 London Individual freestyle test grade Ia
2012 London Team

Early life and education

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

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
  1. "Helen Kearney". paralympics.ied. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  2. "Paralympics Sucess [sic] for Helen". newbridge-college.ie. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. O'Donoghue, Niamh (26 July 2016). "The Road To Rio For Kildare's Paralympians". Leinster Leader. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "'When I am on a horse no one knows I have a disability'". The Independent. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. "Meet our Paralympians: Helen Kearney". rte.ie. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. "Kearney para equestrian medal a first for Ireland". rte.ie. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. "2012 Paralympic Games triple medal winner, Helen Kearney graduates in absentia from UCD". ucd.ie. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. "Kearney's score secures two medals". rte.ie. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  9. "Helen Kearney wins her second medal at the Paralympic Games". rte.ie. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  10. "Helen Kearney confirmed as Irish Equestrian Athlete for 2016 Paralympic Games". horsesportireland.ie. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  11. @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.
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