Latest news with #OriginGymnastics
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Olympic stars leave legacy in home towns after record-breaking Paris 2024 Games
The Paris 2024 legacy is already making a positive impact on local sport, thanks to the £100,000 Olympic Medallist Fund. Six athletes from Northern Ireland, representing both Team Ireland and Team GB, made history by winning an unprecedented seven medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The medal haul included four golds, one silver, and two bronze in Swimming, Rowing, and Gymnastics. Advertisement The Olympic Medallist Fund, administered by Sport NI and made possible through funding from the Department for Communities, was divided among the medallists, with a club or organisation close to their heart to receive an extra funding boost. Each gold medal earned £20,000, silver medals received £10,000, and bronze medallists were awarded £5,000. READ MORE: "We were very close to losing Kirstie' - BBC presenter opens up on miscarriage heartache with wife alongside All-Ireland winner in brave interview READ MORE: 'I have the right not to speak to you' Rory McIlroy breaks silence to explain his USPGA anger The funds are being used to purchase new equipment, expanding opportunities for participation in sport. Advertisement Olympic medallists Daniel Wiffen (St Patrick's Grammar School), Rhys McClenaghan (Origin Gymnastics), Hannah Scott (Bann Rowing Club), Jack McMillan (Bangor Swimming Club), Rebecca Shorten (Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club), and Philip Doyle (Belfast Boat Club) have each chosen a club or organisation to benefit from a share of the fund. Minister Lyons expressed his pride, stating: "As Sports Minister it was a real privilege to cheer on our local athletes at last year's Paris Olympics. The incredible success of Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan, Hannah Scott, Jack Milligan, Rebecca Shorten and Philip Doyle put Northern Ireland on the global stage. "For a small nation, our athletes consistently punch above their weight, thanks to their dedication and sacrifices, and the unwavering support of coaches, school staff, families, and support teams. "Through the Olympic Medallist Fund, these sporting heroes can give back to their communities and sports, creating pathways for greater participation and inspiring our future medallists. This also aligns with the goal of Active Living – Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for Northern Ireland to have 'More People More Active More Often'. Advertisement "It's been inspiring to see the impact of this funding at Rhys McClenaghan's Origin Gymnastics facility, which I'm confident will nurture our next future champion." Sport NI Interim CEO Richard Archibald commented: "The six clubs and organisations chosen by our medallists were instrumental in their journey to the podium in Paris. With their support, equipment, time and expertise, they grew a love of sport within each of these athletes which turned into an Olympic medal years later. "Our Paris medallists are an inspiration to young people within their communities and thanks to the Olympic Medallist Fund these organisations can now support other young people to achieve their potential in sport and hopefully follow in these medallists' footsteps." Bangor Swimming Club has been bestowed with new training and competition gear, while St Patricks Grammar School's gym for pupils has seen expansion. Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club is now equipped to propel an elite junior sculler onto the international stage with a top-tier single scull boat, Bann Rowing Club has improved their fleet with carbon fibre single sculls and oars, and Belfast Boat Club has invested in new fitness equipment including support seats, enhancing accessibility to rowing for those with disabilities. Advertisement Olympic gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan from Newtownards has directed a £20,000 grant to Origin Gymnastics in his hometown, which will vastly improve the equipment available to budding gymnasts. Rhys remarked: "I feel like this grant gave me the responsibility to leave a legacy after my Olympic win. I couldn't think of a better way to leave a legacy than to donate the money to the fastest growing gymnastics club in the country, Origin Gymnastics. This will hopefully allow young gymnasts to follow in my foot steps and give them opportunities and equipment that I didn't have growing up in this sport. Origin offers a sense of community in my home town of Newtownards and gives everybody in the local area a true love for the sport of gymnastics." Luke Carson, CEO & Founder of Origin Gymnastics, shared his pride in local hero Rhys's personal journey which has greatly impacted the community. He asserted: "Rhys has always been a shining example for our local community-his journey is a testament to the power of dedication, resilience, and chasing your dreams. I was genuinely honoured when he chose Origin as the recipient of this funding. As a new gymnastics club in the heart of Ards, we're passionate about showing why gymnastics is a sport every child should have the chance to experience. This funding has enabled us to invest in new equipment, helping us raise the bar even further in what we can offer to our members."
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland's Paris heroes give back to local sporting clubs through Olympic Medallist Fund
Northern Irish athletes returned seven medals from France two years ago, including four golds, which has unlocked a significant amount of funding to be invested back into local sport. The Olympic Medallist Fund, which is distributed by Sport NI and made possible through funding from the Department for Communities, was split between the various athletes, with gold medals being awarded £20,000, silver getting £10,000 and bronze worth £5,000. Each athlete who won a medal was asked to select a club to award their funding to, with the money being used to fund new equipment and expand opportunities for people to participate in sport. All six of Daniel Wiffen (St Patrick's Grammar School), Rhys McClenaghan (Origin Gymnastics), Hannah Scott (Bann Rowing Club), Jack McMillan (Bangor Swimming Club), Rebecca Shorten (Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club) and Philip Doyle (Belfast Boat Club) were able to select clubs to allocate funding to. Minister for Sport Gordon Lyons commented: 'As Sports Minister it was a real privilege to cheer on our local athletes at last year's Paris Olympics. The incredible success of Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan, Hannah Scott, Jack Milligan, Rebecca Shorten and Philip Doyle put Northern Ireland on the global stage. 'For a small nation, our athletes consistently punch above their weight, thanks to their dedication and sacrifices, and the unwavering support of coaches, school staff, families, and support teams. 'Through the Olympic Medallist Fund, these sporting heroes can give back to their communities and sports, creating pathways for greater participation and inspiring our future medallists. This also aligns with the goal of Active Living – Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for Northern Ireland to have 'More People More Active More Often'. 'It's been inspiring to see the impact of this funding at Rhys McClenaghan's Origin Gymnastics facility, which I'm confident will nurture our next future champion.' Sport NI;s interim chief executive Richard Archibald added: 'The six clubs and organisations chosen by our medallists were instrumental in their journey to the podium in Paris. With their support, equipment, time and expertise, they grew a love of sport within each of these athletes which turned into an Olympic medal years later. 'Our Paris medallists are an inspiration to young people within their communities and thanks to the Olympic Medallist Fund these organisations can now support other young people to achieve their potential in sport and hopefully follow in these medallists' footsteps.' Bangor Swimming Club will benefit from new poolside training and competition equipment; St Patricks Grammar School expanded their in-school gym for pupils; Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club can offer an elite junior sculler the chance to compete at international level with a competition sized single scull boat; Bann Rowing Club will add carbon fibre single sculls and oars; and Belfast Boat Club purchased new fitness equipment and support seats to allow people with disabilities to participate in rowing. Olympic gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan chose Origin Gymnastics in his hometown of Newtownards to receive £20,000 which has gone towards new equipment to expand the opportunities for beginners in the sport. "I feel like this grant gave me the responsibility to leave a legacy after my Olympic win. I couldn't think of a better way to leave a legacy than to donate the money to the fastest growing gymnastics club in the country, Origin Gymnastics,' said McClenaghan. "This will hopefully allow young gymnasts to follow in my foot steps and give them opportunities and equipment that I didn't have growing up in this sport. Origin offers a sense of community in my home town of Newtownards and gives everybody in the local area a true love for the sport of gymnastics." Luke Carson, chief executive and founder of Origin Gymnastics, as well as McClenaghan's coach, added: "Rhys has always been a shining example for our local community – his journey is a testament to the power of dedication, resilience, and chasing your dreams. "I was genuinely honoured when he chose Origin as the recipient of this funding. As a new gymnastics club in the heart of Ards, we're passionate about showing why gymnastics is a sport every child should have the chance to experience. "This funding has enabled us to invest in new equipment, helping us raise the bar even further in what we can offer to our members."
