RTÃ? is to broadcast a brand new series next week featuring five-time Paralympian Catherine Walsh from Swords.
‘London Calling’ captures the ecstatic highs and crushing lows as Ireland’s top athletes – across a range of disciplines – train, compete and try to qualify for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This six-part series follows the medal hopefuls as the tension builds before big qualifying events and joining in the thrill of competition, as these athletes strive to reach London 2012.
Catherine Walsh is a five time Paralympian having competed in a range of events spanning two decades and is one of Ireland’s few world champions – having won the 3km tandem bike pursuit gold in Los Angeles in 2012.
She has overcome her severe visual impairment to be one of the nation’s most prolific athletes, but is also a mother to Alison (8) and Conor (5), who have sight difficulties, while also working as a physiotherapist in Lusk HSE Community Unit.
Focusing not just on the sporting achievements of the participants, this observational documentary series also draws a clearer picture of these exceptional people and how they balance a world-class training regime with living their everyday lives.
Drawn from urban and rural backgrounds, from across Ireland, the would-be Olympians compete in a wide range of disciplines – boxing, discus, triathlon, sprinting, three-day eventing, walking, long distance running, and cycling – with a mix of first timers full of hunger and expectation to experienced Olympians who know how much sacrifice and pain lies ahead.
While we would like all our athletes to win gold medals, inevitably for some, the path to London will end in disappointment.
As they train to be one of the world’s best,
‘London Calling’ also shines a light on the effect this level of dedication has on their personal and private lives.
Catherine Walsh features in episode two of the series on Tuesday, June 26 at 10.35pm on RTÃ? One.