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Special Olympics: Our athletes make a splash medal tally rises
28 July 2015; Team Ireland’s James Meenan, 408, a member of St Therese’s Special Olympics Club, from Dundalk Co Louth, races alongside fellow athletes, Jie Zhang, 218, SO China, and Keith Ricketts, 436, on his way to qualifying for the finals of the 100m at the Katherine B. Loker Stadium. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Supporters of Team Ireland's Lorraine Hession, from Turloughmore, Co Galway, including her brothers Paul and Joseph, cheer her on as she swims her way to winning a 4th place ribbon in the AQ 100M Freestyle Division F14 event at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Team Ireland’s James Meenan, a member of St Therese’s Special Olympics Club, from Dundalk Co Louth, on his way to qualifying for the finals of the 100m at the Katherine B. Loker Stadium. James qualified in a personal best time and looks forward to the finals later in the week. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Team Ireland's Lorraine Hession, a member of Team South Galway, from Turloughmore, Co Galway, on her way to winning a 4th place ribbon in the AQ 100M Freestyle Division F14 event at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Team Ireland's Sarah Jane Johnston, a member of Ripples Sports Special Olympics Club, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, on her way to winning a Bronze medal in the AQ 100M Freestyle Division F15 event at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Team Ireland's James Meenan, a member of St Therese's Special Olympics Club, from Dundalk Co Louth, on his way to qualifying for the finals of the 100m at the Katherine B. Loker Stadium. James qualified in a personal best time and looks forward to the finals later in the week. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
28 July 2015; Supporters of Team Ireland's Lorraine Hession, from Turloughmore, Co Galway, including her brothers Paul and Joseph, cheer her on as she swims her way to winning a 4th place ribbon in the AQ 100M Freestyle Division F14 event at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California, United States. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
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Team Ireland's medal haul at the Special Olympics has risen to four after Sarah Jane Johnston claimed her second bronze medal of the games.
Athletes took part in a range of events including basketball, bowling, bocce and badminton, but it was in the pool once again where they had the greatest success.
Sarah Jane (35), a member of Ripples Sports Special Olympics Club, from Lurgan, Co Armagh finished third in the 100 metre freestyle race, in a repeat of her performance in the backstroke competition on Sunday.
"I am very happy and proud of my performances and I am really enjoying the World Games," she said.
Competition
There was also success in the pool for Galway athlete Lorraine Hession, who narrowly missed out on a bronze but did celebrate a fourth place ribbon in a separate division of the 100 metre freestyle competition
The 27-year-old, from Turloughmore, Co Galway registered a personal best before being presented with her ribbon by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom.
Team Ireland aquatics coach Jennifer Hughes from Baldoyle, Dublin said: "Lorraine and Sarah Jane swam really well today in two competitive races, I'm delighted with their performances and am really proud of them."
At the LA Live bowling alley, Ireland were supported by a huge crowd as they bowled in the team event alongside Panama.
After nearly three hours they had to settle for sixth place.
The team of Annita O'Connor (47) from Carlow, John Rowan (51) from Rathnew, Co Wicklow, Michael Conboy (48) from Galway city and Sean Campbell, (30) from Coleraine, Co Derry will all bowl again later in the week in individual competitions.
Meanwhile, a personal best was achieved by James Meenan (20) from Dundalk, Co Louth in the 100 metre heat on the athletics track.
The St Therese's Special Olympics Club member can now look forward to the finals of the sprint at the Katherine B Loker Stadium later in the week.
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