Carlow gymnasts' Italian job
Tara and Clara with their coach Sara Rennick.
Two Carlow teenagers represented Ireland on the global stage over the weekend as Tara O’Neill (18) and Clara Duffy (13) competed at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in Pesaro, Italy.
Despite their young ages, the pair, based in Carlow Gymnastics Club, have been competing together for several years before being rewarded for their consistent hard work and dedication by being selected for the Ireland International Development squad where they spent the last few years rising through the ranks.
Tara and Clara work primarily with their own coach, Sara Rennick, as well as attending weekly sessions with Irish coaches in Abbottstown. They train upwards of 18 hours per week, with sessions focusing on skills, choreography, gym work, and even media training.
Rennick will also travel to Pesaro as one of Ireland's coaches, making the selection an especially proud moment for Carlow Gymnastics Club. Rennick's contribution to the development of gymnastics in Carlow has been significant, and the club is immensely proud to see two of its gymnasts and their coach representing Ireland at a World Championships.
The time spent in the International Development squad saw Tara and Clara come through several trials to be selected as one of three teams who will go on to represent Ireland in the ACRO World Championships, with the other two pairs coming from Wexford and Cork.
In preparation for the World Championships and to give them a chance to adapt to competing in Italy, Tara and Clara took part in the Turin Acro Cup in July. The Carlow duo finished third and registered some outstanding personal bests.
