Cootehill para-cyclist chasing World Championship glory

Cavan-born para-cyclist Sinead Greenan will fly to Alabama this Saturday, August 29, where she will spend 10 days competing at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-cycling Road World Championships, continuing a remarkable rise through the sport that has already delivered international medals in her debut season.

The athlete, who competes under her maiden name, is originally from Cootehill and now lives in Offaly. She already has hopes of qualifying for the Paralympics in Los Angeles.

Her mother, Andrea, is from Cootehill, while her father, Mark, is from Rockcorry, Co Monaghan. Greenan still proudly regards Cavan as home and says she is fortunate to have the unwavering support of her husband, Colm Hill, as she pursues her sporting ambitions.

Sinead was born with congenital cataracts and secondary glaucoma and has lived with a visual impairment all her life. While her sight has deteriorated significantly over the past two years, she has refused to let that halt her sporting career.

A qualified physiotherapist and former mountain biker, Greenan only joined Cycling Ireland's para-cycling development squad in March but has quickly established herself on the international stage. Partnering with tandem pilot Alice Sharpe, she won bronze in her first World Cup appearance in Belgium before capturing silver at the European Para-cycling Championships in Italy in June.

The pair, who have trained together for fewer than 30 days in total, finished just one second behind the European champions in a thrilling sprint finish, underlining their potential as a partnership.

Greenan is currently preparing for the World Championships while balancing the challenges of daily life, including a planned move to a home in Tullamore town, which has public transport.

Representing Ireland remains a source of immense pride.

"The goal of representing Ireland has already been achieved," she said. "Anything on top of that, if we can medal in either the time trial or the road race, would be absolutely amazing."

A medal in Alabama would also help secure valuable Sport Ireland funding as Greenan begins building towards an even bigger target: qualification for the Los Angeles Paralympics.

And while she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground, when she's not on her bike, the 33-year-old is not afraid to dream big.

"If I'm allowed to say it out loud, the dream would be to win the Paralympics. That would be incredible."

For now, however, Greenan's focus is firmly on Alabama and the opportunity to cap an extraordinary breakthrough year with another podium finish for Ireland.

See full interview in the next print edition of The Anglo-Celt.