By Sean Moriarty

Paralympian Jordan Lee has told the Killarney Advertiser of the pride he felt after leading the Irish team during the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on Tuesday.

Jordan, a high jumper, and fellow team member Britney Arendse (Para Powerlifting) were selected as the Irish flag bearers for the ceremony.

He only learned on Sunday evening and was sworn to secrecy until hours before the event.

“I was very emotional and found myself tearing up when the Chef de Mission [Dennis Twomey] asked me to do it. I was over the moon but also felt very humbled – it just shows the trust they have in me,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I think I must be the first Kerry man to lead an Irish team into an Olympic Stadium.”

He was speaking from the training camp in Tokyo ahead of his T47 high jump which is scheduled for 11.28am Irish time on Sunday morning. The T47 class is for competitors with a below elbow or wrist amputation.

EMPEROR

During the ceremony he had to follow traditional Japanese protocol including bowing to The Emperor of Japan.

“It is really hard to put into words how I felt at that time, how much pride came into my body,” he added. “You see this on TV, now I was the guy on TV. It was very surreal bowing to the Emperor. There are so many more, vastly experienced, people on this team and they chose me – a 21-year-old from Killarney.”

TEAM MATES

Jordan is sharing the Olympic Village living accommodation in Tokyo with some of Ireland’s most experienced Paralympic athletes including Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop.

Smyth, who is legally blind, is competing in his fourth Paralympics and is chasing his sixth gold medal in either the 100m or 200m sprints.

McKillop is also competing at his fourth Paralympic Games and has won four gold medals over longer-distances like the 1500m or the 800m before that race was dropped from the Paralympic schedule. He competes with a mild form of cerebral palsy.

“I have become very friendly with the two lads over the years from various other international competitions. These men are the greatest of all time. They have helped me pass the time while remaining focused,” Jordan added.

One of their pastimes at the Olympic Village is studying their training statistics over the last few years and turning them in to fun facts.

In preparation for the games Jordan has jumped the equivalent 9090 metres – or nine times the height of Carrauntoohil and has lifted over 120,000 kilos - roughly the same weight as a Boeing 747.

“It just shows you cannot just rock up and compete at this level, there are no two better men to turn to,” he said.