James Meenan crossing the line a winner at the 100m event in Los Angeles yesterday
A gold medal will be coming back to Dundalk after local athlete James Meenan won the 100 metre event at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles yesterday.
The 20-year-old from Greenacres came home in a time of 12.49 seconds to cross the line ahead of everyone else.
Amongst those cheering him on at the Loker Stadium in LA was Irish boxing legend Wayne McCullough, who said: “It was amazing to watch James win his Gold medal for Team Ireland in the 100M; when he took off, no one was going to catch him – I’ve christened him the Junior Pocket Rocket. When I heard that the Special Olympics were on in LA, I just had to come and support the guys.
“It’s been great to meet James and some of the other athletics medallists, as well as the Team Ireland aquatics team and footballers today. Team Ireland has a huge amount of medals at the minute and I know they’re going to get more; win or lose, you’ve just got to fight until the end and I know they will do that.”
Team Ireland has taken 70 medals back from the States, with Meenan’s gold adding to the bronze he picked up earlier in the week when he came home third in the 200m event in a time of 26.13 seconds.
James left for Los Angeles with everyone from Dundalk wishing him well, he will return this weekend as a hero and a champion.
Well done James!
Meenan, his gold medal and Wayne McCullough
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