Northern Irish Paralympic legend Michael McKillop will lead five aspiring athletes to this year’s Games as part of the Irish Futures Pathway programme designed to guide the next generation.
The four-time champion will bring the quintet to Paris to sample the atmosphere around the Paralympic Games as a way of helping them understand what it takes to compete ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
The programme is set to run for future Games as well, with this the first time Paralympics Ireland have opted to send aspiring competitors just to experience life as a Paralympic athlete, rather than competing.
The Pathway will see them experience life in the Paralympic Village and what it is like to be an athlete away from the competitive sphere, as well as what would be required of them when going for gold in the arena.
“The program will support multiple aspects of the athletes’ journeys, empowering them to understand what it takes to compete at the highest level, fostering high-performance behaviours, and immersing them in high-performance environments, all while focusing on their ability to perform on the world stage,” read Paralympics Ireland’s statement.
The five athletes taking part in the Pathway are Lana Sutton (athletics), Cormac O’Callaghan (cycling), Katie O’Reilly (equestrian), Casey Fitzgerald (powerlifting) and Patrick Vaughan (table tennis).
They will be ably assisted by McKillop, one of Northern Ireland’s greatest Paralympic athletes of all time having won gold medals in London, Beijing and Rio in the 800m and 1500m.
“The Futures Program is a fantastic opportunity for athletes to learn from and immerse themselves in Paralympic competition at the highest level. Our focus is on holistic athlete development, ensuring that they not only gain the necessary experience but also grow through every stage of their journey,” commented Pathway lead Brian Hughes.
“By creating these development opportunities throughout the Paralympic pathway, we aim to bridge the gap between competing internationally and being fully prepared to perform at a Paralympic Games in the future.
“This program is all about nurturing growth and empowering athletes on their journey towards the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.”