The Gay Games kicked off last Saturday in Paris, with up to 13,000 athletes from around the globe descending on the city for a celebration of diversity and visibility for LGBT+ people in sport. Making themselves known among that number are the exceptional athletes from Team Ireland.

While their presence at the Games, representing their country, counties and themselves to the best of their abilities is amazing enough, their successes only add to the pride Ireland already has for our sportspeople abroad. With the Games due to finish tomorrow, let’s take a look at how some of Team Ireland have fared so far.

There was success for the women’s badminton teams, with Team Ireland taking a jaw-dropping Gold, Silver and Bronze in their event!

The men competing in the 5km race definitely weren’t left behind, with three placing in the top ten.

There’s the Team Cork boxers and coaches proudly displaying their well deserved medals. You’ve done your county proud!

Emma O’Reilly and Niamh O’Sullivan both swam away with medals and the hearts of their county. Well done, ladies.

The Pink Ladies Hockey Club were always going to be a team to be reckoned with.

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Phillipa Ryder took on the road race, we can’t wait to hear how she got on.

Another Scott Orwell Wheelers rider wearing the Irish jersey this week!! Best of luck to Phillipa Ryder who is representing Ireland at the Gay Games in Paris. Today is the TT and later this week Phillipa will take on the road race. Give it socks Phillipa??☘️?‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/nDzUYoPY9x

— Orwell Wheelers (@Orwell_Wheelers) August 9, 2018

With many more athletes triumphing than we have covered here, let GCN know of all the other successes! For now though, as President Michael D Higgins told the athletes at a reception held in their honour at Áras an Uachtaráin in advance of the Games: “Some of you will return bearing medals, some of you may not. But may I say that, whether or not you gain medals, you participate as excellent role models, truly participative members of society, who have the courage to stand up in support of sport becoming a source of tolerance, fairness and equality.”

Can’t say it better than that. Well done, Team Ireland!