Paralympic hero Niamh McCarthy achieved silver medal-winning discus throw in unusual footwear

Silver medals are not easily come by, but Niamh McCarthy made it look easier than most in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday night.

The Cork woman threw 26.67 metres in the F41 discus final in the Olympic Stadium to come second at her first Paralympic Games. It was a truly remarkable effort from the 22-year-old when you consider she took the sport up less than four years ago. It took a world record throw from Raoua Tlili of Tunisia to defeat McCarthy, who was lost for words afterwards.

“I have few words right now. It was a hard competition and I pulled through in the end. I got what I came here for. I wouldn’t change anything in the past few months.”

It was a mighty impressive showing, all the more so when you consider McCarthy's footwear. Spikes? Nah. A nice pair of running shoes? Nah.

Good old fashioned Converse.

At least one journalist thought the choice of apparel was worth an endorsement deal.

https://twitter.com/ConMurphySport/status/776560083450953728 Perhaps McCarthy should CANVAS for support. Geddit????

Main picture credit: Joe Harrington

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