
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.
Biography
Impairment information
Further personal information
Sport specific information
International debut
General interest
She received the 2016 Senior Female Athlete of the Year award from Hazelwood College in Cork, Ireland. (Twitter profile, 16 May 2017)
She was presented with the Cork City and County Youth Sports Star of the Month award for October 2016. (independent.ie, 29 Oct 2016)
She received the Achievement Award at the 2015 Munster Star Awards in Ireland. (corkathletics.org, 2016)
She was named Sportswoman of the Month for October 2015 by Cork City Sports. (irishtimes.com, 12 Nov 2015)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
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Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Discus Throw F38 | Final 1 | 2015-10-26 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Discus Throw F38 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 3 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Discus Throw F38 | Final 1 | 2017-07-20 | 2 |