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John Twomey became wheelchair bound as a 14-year-old after striking a parked vehicle during a youth county championship cycling time trial. He broke his back and neck.
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Before his accident, he was also a promising young hurler in his native Kinsale, Cork.
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At 61, the sailor is Ireland’s oldest competitor at the 2016 Paralympics, his 11th and final Games.
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That means he’s the first and only Irish athlete to compete in 10 Games, across either the Paralympics or Olympics.
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The multi-talented Irishman has competed in every Paralympic Games since 1976 across three different sports.
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He’s won multiple medals; bronze (1984) and gold (1988) in discus, as well as silver in table tennis in 1980.
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He switched to sailing when it was introduced to the Paralympic Games ahead of Sydney 2000.
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Twomey specialises in the Open Three-Person Keelboat (Sonar) and will compete alongside Ian Costelloe and Austin O’Carroll in his key event in Rio.
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With sailing omitted from the next Games in Tokyo 2020, he plans to turn to coaching younger Paralympians once he finishes up in Brazil.
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On top of his vast Paralympic experience, Twomey has served as President of the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS).
61 years old, his 11th #Paralympics, @ParalympicsIRE flag bearer John Twomey must be bursting with pride tonight ? pic.twitter.com/ytTG8BiclZ
— C4 Paralympics (@C4Paralympics) September 7, 2016
