‘I only ever wanted to be No.1, nothing else was acceptable’
Paralympic champion Tom Leahy has released a memoir titled 'Here For A Reason' detailing his life as a disabled athlete and his transition to becoming an artist. The book explores the challenges of growing up with cerebral palsy in Ireland and his relentless drive to succeed in international sports.
Why it matters
It provides a personal perspective on the evolution of disability rights and the psychological impact of transitioning from elite sports to civilian life.
Tom Leahy, Paralympic champion and artist
Colette Sheridan One of Ireland’s most decorated Paralympians, Tom Leahy, from Ballyhooly in north Cork, has written a searingly honest memoir (with Emmett Coffey), entitled Here For A Reason .
It documents his life as a disabled person who demands to be seen.
And there is plenty to notice about this determined man, who won a total of eight medals at the Paralympic Games, including three golds having taken part in eight successive tournaments from 1984 to 2012.
A five-time world record holder, Leahy won more than 50 medals for Ireland on the international stage. His sports were throwing the discus, club, shot put, and boccia - a precision sport similar to bowls.
Having given his all to sport, he retired from it in his early fifties when his hips became very painful. He now works as an artist.
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