RECENT COVERAGE : January 15, 2008
Ireland’s John C. Twomey has been a competitor all of his life and has represented his country more than any other Olympian or Paralympian. A man who “just likes competing”, he never gives up. John was a competitive cyclist until a T2-T3 injury in 1970 left him getting around on two wheels, those of a wheelchair and not a bicycle. When John recovered, he turned to track and field for competition and won the honor of being on the Irish Paralympic team in 1976. His discus throw did not earn him a medal in Toronto, but he took home a Bronze and a Gold from the 1984 and 1988 Paralympic Games, respectively.
After sailing’s debut as a Paralympic event in 1996, Twomey migrated from terra firma to the water, and in 2000 he steered the Irish Sonar around the course in Sydney. He was the Irish Sonar helmsman in Athens also.
Twomey just arrived in Miami and is competing in the Caviglia Blue Water Classic with his teammates Brian O’Mahony and Anthony Heggarty. O’Mahony was the Irish bowman in Athens and Heggarty joined the team as the middleman in 2005. They are using the Caviglia to tune up for the final regatta of their Olympic Team Trials, the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta.
A commercial real estate developer of mixed-use communities primarily in southern Ireland, Twomey hopes to continue his string of Olympic appearances. Twomey will be paying close attention to compatriot, Paul McCarthy and his Sonar team at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. If Twomey defeats McCarthy at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes regatta he will get the opportunity to go for the Olympic Gold Medal for the 9th time in a row.
|
