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The 42
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Three of Ireland's Paris medallists donate €60k in Olympic grants to clubs and former school
THREE OF IRELAND'S medallists from Paris 2024 have donated their Olympic legacy grants from Sport Northern Ireland to the institutions with whom they started their respective Olympic journeys. Funded by Stormont's Department for Communities, the Olympic Medallist Fund of £100,000 (€119,000) was shared between six athletes from the north, three of whom represented Ireland at last summer's Paris Olympics while the other three competed for Team GB. Double Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen was granted £25,000 (€29,700) in legacy funding, with his 800m freestyle gold medal earning him £20,000 and his 1500m freestyle bronze worth an additional £5,000. Advertisement Wiffen donated his entire cheque to his former school, St Patrick's Grammar School in Armagh, to offset the cost of a recent gym expansion on the school's Cathedral Road premises. 'Proud to donate my full £25,000 Olympic Legacy fund to @stpatsarmagh – the school that believed in me from the start,' Wiffen wrote on social media. 'The new gym will support the next generation of Armagh athletes. Legacy isn't just about medals – it's about giving back.' Proud to donate my full £25,000 Olympic Legacy fund to @stpatsarmagh – the school that believed in me from the start. The new gym will support the next generation of Armagh athletes. Legacy isn't just about medals – it's about giving back. 🏫💪 #LegacyOfParis #Armagh #Paris2024 — Daniel Wiffen (@WiffenDaniel) June 9, 2025 Gold medal-winning gymnast Rhys McClenaghan also donated his full cheque, worth £20,000, to the aptly named Origin Gymnastics club in his hometown of Newtownards, Co. Down. 'I feel like this grant gave me the responsibility to leave a legacy after my Olympic win,' McClenaghan said. '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 hometown of Newtownards and gives everybody in the local area a true love for the sport of gymnastics.' Philip Doyle, meanwhile, who took rowing bronze for Ireland in the double sculls alongside Clonmel man Daire Lynch, donated his £5,000 to Belfast Boat Club. Of the Team GB athletes from Northern Ireland, rowers Hannah Scott (gold) and Rebecca Shorten (silver) donated to Bann Rowing Club and Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club respectively, while swimmer Jack McMillan (gold) chose Bangor Swimming Club.
Irish Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Paris medallists Wiffen, McClenaghan and Doyle donate €60,000 in Olympic legacy funding to former school and clubs
Double Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen has donated his entire Olympic Legacy Fund – worth £25,000 (€29,700) – to his former school, St Patrick's Grammar School in Armagh. Wiffen was one of six athletes from Northern Ireland (representing Team Ireland and Team Great Britain) who collectively claimed seven medals at last summer's Olympics in Paris. The medal haul included four golds, one silver, and two bronze in swimming, rowing and gymnastics. The £100,000 (€119,000) Olympic Medallist Fund, divided among the medallists, is funded by Stormont's Department for Communities and administered by Sport Northern Ireland. Each gold medal winner earned £20,000, while silver medals received £10,000, and bronze medallists were awarded £5,000. Each athlete who won a medal was asked to select a club to receive their funding, with the money being used for equipment or to expand opportunities for people to participate in sport. READ MORE Wiffen, who won gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1,500m freestyle, put all his money towards the recent gym expansion at St Patrick's, writing on social media: 'Proud to donate my full £25,000 Olympic Legacy fund to @stpatsarmagh – the school that believed in me from the start. The new gym will support the next generation of Armagh athletes. Legacy isn't just about medals – it's about giving back.' Proud to donate my full £25,000 Olympic Legacy fund to — Daniel Wiffen (@WiffenDaniel) The other medal winners included Wiffen's fellow Team Ireland gold medallist, gymnast Rhys McClenaghan , who donated his £20,000 to the Origin Gymnastics club in his hometown, Newtownards. 'I feel like this grant gave me the responsibility to leave a legacy after my Olympic win,' said McClenaghan. '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 hometown of Newtownards and gives everybody in the local area a true love for the sport of gymnastics.' Philip Doyle , bronze medallist for Team Ireland in the double sculls alongside Daire Lynch, donated his £5,000 to Belfast Boat Club. From Team GB, Hannah Scott (quadruple sculls, gold) picked Bann Rowing Club, Jack McMillan (4×200m freestyle, gold) chose Bangor Swimming Club, and Rebecca Shorten (coxless four, silver) opted for Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club. Northern Ireland Minister for Sport Gordon Lyons added: '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.' Wiffen, who turns 24 next month, is next aiming for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in late July, where he'll be chasing gold in both the 800m and 1,500m events.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- 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
06-06-2025
- 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."
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Daniel Wiffen breaks 18-year-old event record in final leg of tour meet
Daniel Wiffen broke the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour event record in the 1500m freestyle as four days of racing across two countries concluded tonight in Canet, France. Wiffen was the first Irish swimmer in the pool, competing in the 1500m freestyle final. Wiffen, who has already claimed gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 400m freestyle in Barcelona, opted out of last night's 400m freestyle final to focus on tonight's race. The strategy paid off, Wiffen delivered a standout performance in front of a packed arena in Canet. The 23-year-old led the race at the halfway mark with a split of 7:25.37, increasing his stroke rate to dominate the remainder of the race. The Olympic champion touched the wall in 14:54.71 to claim gold, with his closest competitor finishing in 15:01.66. The time also saw Wiffen shatter the Mare Nostrum record, held by legendary Australian swimmer Grant Hackett (15:00.58) since 2007. Ellie McCartney continued her excellent form from the Irish Open into the Mare Nostrum, capping off an impressive week with a bronze medal in the 200m Breaststroke Final. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer clocked 2:24.55 to finish third, just 0.3 seconds behind silver. Danielle Hill wrapped up a busy week at the Mare Nostrum with another final, this time in the 100m Backstroke. She posted a time of 1:01.50 to finish fifth. Hill leaves the meet with a collection of strong performances in preparation for Singapore. Jack Cassin brought the curtain down on Ireland's participation at the 2025 Mare Nostrum, racing in the 200m Butterfly final. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer dropped nearly three seconds from his heat swim to finish sixth with a time of 1:58.71. Attention will now turn to June for the Sette Colli meet, which is set to feature several swimmers heading to Singapore including, Wiffen, Mona McSharry, and Ellen Walshe.
