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Orla Comerford (Raheny Shamrock AC) won Team Ireland’s fourth medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games following a stunning display in the T13 100m Final this evening.  

Three-time Paralympian Orla Comerford qualified for the final of the Women’s 100m T13race after a dominant first-place finish in her heat in a time of 12.02. The Dubliner, who clocked her personal best of 11.90 during the National Championships in July, finished just ahead of Canada’s Bianca Borgella to qualify third overall for the evening final.  

Evening Final

Comerford stormed home to win bronze in a time just outside her personal best of 11.94. The race was won by Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva who set a new world record of 11.76. Silver went to Rayane Soares da Silva of Brazil who crossed the line just behind the leader in a time of 11.78. 

It is a first Paralympic medal for the 26-year-old who previously represented her country at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. 

Speaking after the race, Comerford said, “It feels insane! My initial feelings crossing the line were of disappointment and then when I turned around and saw my family I was like, I can’t be disappointed with that. It’s such an honour and a privilege to do it with them all here. Brian’s family are here, my club members are here. I’d have taken your hand off for that a couple of years ago so I have to take in the moment, enjoy it and let it fuel me now for the next four years.”

Speaking about how close she was to a PB, she said, “Yeah but I feel there’s lots more in the tank. I was disappointed not to (get a PB). I reckoned at the start of the year that it would take a world record to win it. That’s what I had my eyes on. I know that’s ambitious but I think that’s well within my wheelhouse. 

“I’m excited for the next cycle, to push on towards that and faster. I think our group of girls are all pushing each other faster and faster each year which is what we love to see in Para sport so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.” 

Speaking about the race, she said, “I’ve no recollection of the start, I usually feel like I come off the track and almost remember too much of it, like I was in my head a bit too much. I just got up and I remember feeling the girls there in front of me and I was just pushing as much as I could. I didn’t want to get tense, or tighten up. I just wanted to run my own race.

“My first medal though, I have to be delighted and it’s so lovely to have so much Irish support here. It feels really like a home Games. Good God, if you told me back before Tokyo that I’d get a medal at this one I would have jumped for joy. I think I probably have high expectations for myself and I think that’s a good thing.”