Walterstown teenager Fergus leaps onto the World stage

ATHLETICS St Pat's CS student aiming high

Walterstown teenager and talented athlete Fergus Cosgrove, produced a series of outstanding performances recently to qualify for the sixth Athletics Down Syndrome World Championships in Nymburk, Czech Republic. between Sunday 19th June and Sunday 26th June.

Fergus, who turns 16 in July, is a student at St Patrick's Classical School, Navan and lives in Walterstown with his two older brothers, Eoin and Daire, and their parents, Eleanor and Sean Cosgrove. He qualified for the World Championships when he took part in the Meath Track & Field Championships held at the home of Dunboyne AC recently.

According to Eleanor Cosgrove, Fergus has always been an active child, who wanted to do exactly what his two older brothers were doing and had an interest in sport from an early age. "He started in Walterstown Gaelic football club when he was five years old and continued to play up to age 15.” she said.

Last year Fergus joined Balrath Football club and impressed grealy with a series of outstanding, consistent displays in a team setting. He has also made an impact in other sports. At the Blue Dragons rugby team in Navan, he was bestowed the honour of being captain of the team for the day they played in a blitz in DLSP. Furthermore, he has been a member of Navan Special Olympics from an early age, of which Friday nights became the highlight when he would train with and see his friends.

"Like any other teenager, Fergus is a big Xbox fan as well and he cannot wait to get his school holidays so he can play. Fergus took up athletics during lunch time at school at the start of 2021 with the encouragement of Mr O’Reilly and Ms Duffy, which he thoroughly enjoys."

Up to 2021 there were no events locally in Ireland tailored for athletes with Down syndrome to compete against their peers. This changed when the Down syndrome Louth Meath Branch formed a sports team for their members, called the Warrior Wolves. The Warrior Wolves then went on to host the first ever 'Come & Try Day' for athletes with Down syndrome, in collaboration with Glenmore AC and Athletics Ireland in April 2022.

"With more than 60 entries over all ages, this event changed the horizon of athletics for athletes with Down syndrome in Ireland," explained the Co-ordinator for the Warrior Wolves sports team in Meath and Louth, Tessa van Heerden. "Athletes over the age of 14 years took part in athletics events similar to mainstream athletics. It was in the 100m that Fergus particularly excelled, racing away with the gold medal. Being the all-rounder he is, Fergus also won two more gold medals in the 50m and shot putt. A silver medal for Turbo javelin and another silver for long jump totalled his medal tally at five for the event," she added.

"Joining Navan AC was another first for Fergus where he was fortunate to have Tom Clinton as his coach,” added Eleanor. “Tom entered Fergus in the Meath Track & Field u-12 to u-16 championships at Dunboyne AC’s track event recently. This was a first-ever giant leap towards inclusion for Meath, having an athlete with Down syndrome participating at a mainstream event to acquire an official time for an international event.

Tessa van Heerden added: "Sport plays a crucial part in people’s lives. It offers the same values, pleasures, and satisfaction to persons with Down syndrome. In addition, it is a vital means by which social, physical, and psychological skills can be taught and learned. Athletes with Down syndrome competing at an elite level not only provide role models for others, but also assist in breaking down the prejudice and ignorance which so badly restricts the lives of people with Down syndrome.”