Noelle Lenihan

The Irish thrower was only 15-years-old when she became a world silver medallist and world record holder at the Doha 2015 World Championships.

Lenihan had made her international debut at the Berlin Grand Prix in Germany only a few months earlier, but she held her own in a highly competitive field with a best of 31.64m to take silver behind China’s F37 thrower Mi Na.

Lenihan warmed up for her first Paralympic Games by winning the 2016 European title in Grosseto, Italy. Her gold medal winning throw of 32.14m was a new world record.

In Rio, the youngster won Paralympic bronze with a best throw of 31.71m despite suffering a shoulder injury in the build up to the competition.

Following Rio, she was named Young Paralympian of the 2016 Paralympic Games by Paralympics Ireland.

In 2017 Lenihan balanced finishing school and securing a place at University with preparing for the London 2017 World Championships.

She clinched discus F38 silver behind Mi Na with a championship record throw of 32.12m - just 2cm shy of her own world record.

Lenihan comes from a sporting family – she was coached by her father Jim; her brothers and sisters have participated in athletics or camogie (and Irish women’s stick and ball game) to a highly competitive level.