By Gary Anderson

January 13 - Three-time Paralympian Dave Malone has been appointed performance manager at Paralympics Ireland ©Getty Images Sydney 2000 swimming champion Dave Malone has been appointed as Paralympics Ireland performance manager and will combine the new role with his position as head of the Irish Paralympic swimming programme, the organisation announced today.

Malone, who won gold in the S8 100 metres backstroke after a dead-heat finish with German rival Holger Kimmig in the final, was appointed head of Irish Paralympic swimming in 2009 and will retain full responsibility for the swim programme.

He will also oversee the range of sports within Paralympics Ireland's performance programme and become the key operational contact point for athletes, coaches, managers and sports representatives on the road to Rio 2016, according to Paralympics Ireland.

The 36-year-old, who also won silver at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 as well holding a number of world records during his career, will be responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the organisation's annual performance programme.

He will work closely with Paralympics Ireland performance advisor Nancy Chillingworth, who has had to reduce her involvement due to increased family commitments.

Dave Malone (left) shared Paralympic gold with Germany's Holger Kimmig at Sydney 2000 ©Getty Images Dave Malone (left) shared Paralympic gold with Germany's Holger Kimmig at Sydney 2000 ©Getty Images
























"I'm really excited with the prospect of further strengthening my involvement with Paralympics Ireland and am particularly looking forward to working with the athletes and support staff from the other sports to assist them achieve their performance goals," said Dubliner Malone.

"With the ever increasing performance standards in Paralympic sport globally I'm looking forward to working closely with everyone in Paralympics Ireland to continue the huge gains made by Irish Paralympians over the course of the last few years culminating in the 19th place on the 2012 medals table."

At London 2012, Ireland won eight gold medals, including swimming golds for Bethany Firth and Darragh McDonald, two golds apiece for athletics stars Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop, while cyclist Mark Rohan also claimed two Paralympic titles.

Former world and European champion Malone was in charge of the Irish squad at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Montreal last year where McDonald went on to be the sole Irish swimmer to win a gold medal while the team also bagged three silver and four bronze medals.

Paralympic champion Darragh McDonald (centre) added world championship gold in Montreal under the stewardship of Dave Malone ©Getty Images Paralympic champion Darragh McDonald (centre) added world championship gold in Montreal under the stewardship of Dave Malone ©Getty Images


























"Dave is an example of a passionate and dedicated individual who wishes for all Irish athletes with an impairment to maximise their ability and strive for success at the very top level, as he himself did in a career spanning 15 years winning multiple championship medals," said Paralympics Ireland chief executive Liam Harbison.

"This appointment is the next step for him having successfully transitioned from top athlete to head of our swimming programme.

"His team last year secured Ireland's first world swimming medals since 2002 by winning a staggering eight medals.

"I've no doubt in his ability to head our sport department to even greater success over the coming years and I wish him the very best with his new challenge."

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