NI Olympians donate money to boost local sport

Northern Ireland's six medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympics have given a boost to up-and-coming sports stars with funding for new equipment.

They have each selected a club or organisation to benefit from a share of the Department for Communities' £100,000 Olympic Medallist Fund.

Pupils at St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, have been enjoying using a new state-of-the-art gym, funded by a donation from Olympic swimmer Daniel Wiffin.

Principal Dominic Clarke said the gym had enhanced the school's PE department "fantastically" - and it's been a hit among pupils.

"It's the 'wow factor' where they walk in and go 'what is this, this is unbelievable,'" he told BBC News NI.

Previously, the school had one gym rack in a squash court area so the new gym is a big change.

"It's been very, very well used from 8am until well after school, so we're very appreciative of the facility and the donation that has been made," Mr Clarke said.

The school's head of PE Mattie McGleenan said it was "just fabulous".

"We've basically got the cardiovascular equipment for this gym [from the funding]," he said.

"You're talking treadmills, rowing machines, ski ergs."

Distributed by Sport NI, the Olympic Medallist Fund was split between Northern Ireland's six medallists with £20,000 for a gold medal, £10,000 for silver and £5,000 for bronze.

Posting on X, Wiffin, who won gold and bronze, said he was proud to donate £25,000 to "the school that believed in me from the start".

"The new gym will support the next generation of Armagh athletes. Legacy isn't just about medals – it's about giving back," he said.

Mr Clarke said Wiffin was "very supportive" of the school and had visited a number of times.

"He's been into the school with his Olympic medals, he'd spend hours speaking to the kids, answering questions, getting selfies with the medals."

He said they were "very proud" of him and will "continue to follow his success".

Six Northern Ireland athletes representing Team Ireland and Team GB won a record seven medals, including four gold, at the Paris Olympics.

Competing for Team Ireland, Wiffin won gold and bronze, Rhys McClenaghan won gold and Philip Doyle won bronze.

For Team GB, Hannah Scott and Jack McMillan won gold while Rebecca Shorten won silver.

McClenaghan chose his gym Origin Gymnastics in his hometown of Newtownards, County Down, to receive £20,000 towards new equipment.

He said the grant gave him "the responsibility to leave a legacy", adding that he hoped the funding would give young gymnasts "opportunities and equipment that [he] didn't have" when he was growing up.

"I'm just happy to see more funding going into sport," McClenaghan said.

"Obviously it's a very nice gesture to notify the Olympic medallists and allow them to distribute that money but even more money needs to be pumped into sport in Northern Ireland.

"That's what we all want to be seeing and that's what's going to make sport grow even more than it already has."

Luke Carson, chief executive and founder of Origin Gymnastics, said McClenaghan's journey was "a testament to the power of dedication, resilience, and chasing your dreams".

"I was genuinely honoured when he chose Origin as the recipient of this funding."

Meanwhile, Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club, supported by Shorten, can now offer an elite junior sculler the chance to compete at international level with a competition-sized single scull boat.

Doyle chose Belfast Boat Club, which purchased new fitness equipment and support seats to allow people with disabilities to participate in rowing.

Bann Rowing Club, supported by Scott, will add carbon fibre single sculls and oars to their equipment, and Bangor Swimming Club will benefit from new poolside training and competition equipment thanks to McMillan's share of the funding.