Jonny Stapleton
Bar Monkey Calisthenics are setting the bar even before the World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation World Championship begin.
Three of the Ballybrack-based clubs’ members broke records upon their selection for Team Ireland and will make history when they represent their country in Lativa between August 22 and August 25.
Will Adam, Daniel Meghen and Leah Conaty – who will compete alongside clubmate Aaron Fitzpatrick -will become the youngest athletes ever to contest on the Calisthenics world stage at just 14 years of age.
Conaty will also be the first female to compete in the tournament, an honour that is not lost on the teen.
“I’m really thrilled to be representing Ireland for the first time in an international competition, let alone the world championship,” she said.
“It’s very humbling to be the first female representative in the freestyle competition. I’m excited to travel and watch all of the women competing, and I hope to pick up a few new skills.”
Fellow record-breaker Adam is equally as eager to compete, although somewhat nervous heading onto the world stage.
“Calisthenics with Bar Monkey has been a large part of my life since I was 7 years old,” he commented.
“All the training, hard work and competitions has now given me, and my teammates this great opportunity to compete with athletes internationally. I am excited, if a bit nervous but really looking forward to competing with people from all around the globe who are involved in Calisthenics.”
Head coach Jamie Geraghty, a record breaker himself as the first Irish athlete to compete in the World Championships, doing so in Hong Kong in 2019, is delighted to be able to pass on the baton to the next generation of young athletes from the club.
“They have all been involved in the club over seven years, and they are heading to the World Championships because they deserve to be recognised at that level because of their own hard work. As a coach, it is the most rewarding thing to see young people develop within the sport you love, and I am very proud of their progress”
If you would like to do your part to help support these young athletes on their journey to compete in Latvia on the world stage, Bar Monkey have organised a fundraiser to try reduce the financial impact for their athletes. You can donate by going to gofundme.com and searching for “Bar Monkey athletes Latvia” https://gofund.me/7f0bba9f
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