We’ve put together a round-up for you of what the some of the Irish and international media are saying this morning about Caroline Ryan’s magnificent bronze medal win the points race at the UCI World Track Championships in Melbourne. Here you go…..
The Irish Examiner
Under the headline ‘Ryan’s joy at brilliant world bronze’, Brian Canty writes:
“Ireland’s Caroline Ryan produced a phenomenal performance to win a bronze medal in the Points race at the Track World Championships in Melbourne yesterday.”
”Ryan, a serving garda but taking a sabbatical to pursue her qualification bid for the Olympics, finished just one point ahead of Italian Giorgia Bronzini at the finish — a remarkable achievement given the Italian is the current women’s world road race champion. It was Ireland’s first medal at a senior track world championship in more than 100 years.”
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“Ryan’s podium finish continues her progression of results over the past couple of years. She was fourth in her first individual pursuit at the Cali World Cup in Colombia in 2010, then last year finished ninth in the same event at the world track championships in Holland. The Kildare woman’s attention will now focus on Sunday’s Individual Pursuit event.”
The Irish Times
The newspaper’s online main homepage photo is of a beaming Ryan on the podium receiving her medal, with a really good piece in today’s newspaper by Shane Stokes. It says:
“Over a century after Harry Reynolds won gold and bronze medals in the World Amateur Track Championships, Caroline Ryan finished a superb third in the women’s points race in Melbourne yesterday.”
“Ryan started her track career as a tandem pilot in paracycling. After securing silver with Caroline Walsh in the 2009 paracycling worlds, she switched to the Elite UCI circuit and last year finished ninth in the individual pursuit at the track world championships.”
“She’s worked hard since then, keeping the individual pursuit as her main focus. The fact the points race is a secondary event for her makes yesterday’s achievement all the more breathtaking.”
The Irish Independent
Under the headline ‘Ryan bronze ends Ireland’s medal famine’ Gerard Cromwell writes:
“An amazing 116 years after Balbriggan's Harry Reynolds won the One Mile Amateur Championship of the World in Copenhagen, 32-year-old Ryan finished third behind Anastasia Chulkova of Russia and Canadian Jasmin Glaesser in the 25km race.”
“These three went clear shortly after midway in the 100-lap race and, along with Chinese girl Wan Yiu Wong, lapped the rest of the field. The bronze medal-winning ride was all the more remarkable given that the 32-year-old didn't start cycling competitively until the end of 2008.”
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“Ryan has taken a year out from her duties as a garda to concentrate on racing and, with the support of Bus Eireann, has spent the last few months training full-time.”
“The daughter of Willie Ryan, who represented Ireland in rowing at the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games, she is due to ride the individual pursuit on Sunday.”
The Irish Independent also awards Ryan their “Sports star of the week award” alongside a fantastic tribute. It reads:
“Caroline Ryan did more than simply win a bronze medal…. She proved that it pays off to persevere in the pursuit of sporting excellence. Having experienced the bitter disappointment of just failing to make the Irish rowing team for the Beijing Olympics, the 32-year-old Garda switched to cycling and was rewarded when she became the first person to secure a podium finish at an elite cycling track event since Harry Reynolds 116 years ago.”
The Guardian (UK)
Under the headline “Caroline Ryan wins Ireland's first track medal in more than 100 years”, William Fotheringham writes of Ryan’s medal winning ride:
“There are no indoor tracks in Ireland, only two outdoor velodromes. Given that those are subject to the vagaries of the Irish weather, no more needs to be said on that score.”
“With a total track budget of less than €100,000 (£80,000) – a fraction of the sum Great Britain set aside for research and development - Ryan had to contribute to her own travel costs merely to be part of the three-rider team here. “
“Ryan came to cycling from rowing having been the first Irish woman to win at the Henley Regatta, and raced initially as a paralympic cycling pilot, taking a brace of silver medals. Like another rower, Rebecca Romero, she found the individual pursuit suited her talents and will start that event on Sunday. Due to the vagaries of the UCI's qualification system she has not earned a place for the London Olympic Games on the track, although she is likely to target the time trial, her other speciality.”
RTE
“Ireland's Caroline Ryan has claimed a bronze medal in the women’s points race at the UCI World Track Championships in Melbourne.”
“The points race, which takes place over 100 laps of the velodrome, was won by Russia's Anastasia Chulkova, with Jasmin Glaesser of Canada in second.”
“Ryan was one of a group of four riders who gained a lap during the event, earning her 20 points and finished third in two sprints for a total of 24 points. Chulkova finished on 31 points while Glaesser claimed 28.”
“Ryan will now compete in the individual pursuit on Sunday, a discipline where she finished ninth last year.”
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