The Irish team returned to a warm welcome last week after their success at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, winning an incredible total of 107 medals - 31 of them gold.

The medal haul included a number in kayaking, with Ruairi O'Toole of Corrib Canoe Club taking gold in the men's 200m and second place in the men's 500m, which beats his previous best of bronze at the Special Olympics in Dublin in 2003.

O'Toole was followed closely by Shaun Bradley from Letterkenny, who won silver in the 200m and placed fourth in the 500m.

In women's kayaking, Teresa Maguire of Moore Abbey was Ireland's start turn with silver in the 200m and bronze in the 500m, while Celine Mulready of the Free Spirit club wasn't far behind with a 200m bronze and fourth place in the 500m.