Paralympics: ‘It’s a bit like like a fairytale and I don’t want it to end’

Jason Smyth (T13 100 metres, gold): "It's my third consecutive Paralympic games and to win my fifth gold medal is incredible. It's a bit like a fairytale really to come to these major championships and keep winning gold. I don't want the fairytale to end and thankfully it doesn't end and it just keeps getting better.

"For me it's just about trying to continue to be successful. I hope that it shows people that you can come out and achieve things. I grew up in Ireland, nothing special, no better privileges than anyone else. I have just worked hard, committed to what I am doing, had good people supporting me and guiding me, had the success and hopefully that can encourage others.

Michael McKillop ( left, T37 1500 metres, gold): "I've come through a really tough time and I'm just glad I was able to go out and win. I had to stay focused and realise what life is about: it's not just about winning gold medals, it's about living and being proud to live the life that I have.

“I’m very lucky. I’ve travelled the world and experienced a lot of things and competed against able-bodied people that don’t get to go Olympic Games. I’m a proud Paralympic athlete but competing able-bodied keeps me ahead of the rivals and I’ll continue doing that until my career is over.” Eoghan Clifford (C3, individual pursuit, track, bronze; C3 time trial, road, gold) “I’m delighted but relieved. As the reigning [world] time trial champion, it is almost a relief that you haven’t lost. Physically it was painful. I was really disciplined during the ride. I was a bit angry, I wasn’t happy with the ride earlier in the week and wanted to prove that I am a better rider than that.”

"I don't want to overblow it [the knee] but the simple act of being out on the bike over the past two days has been sore. I had a bit of a rant to my coach and told him I wanted to throw the bike into the sea. He stopped me."

Katie-George Dunlevy/ Eve McCrystal (tandem B pursuit, road, gold; tandem B, road race, silver): "That's the first time we've heard that, Paralympic champions. Sounds nice, we've been dreaming that for a long time, dreaming of that for the last four years since London. We're over the moon, ecstatic, I can't describe how we feel.

On the silver medal: “We’re absolutely exhausted, it was a hard race, probably one of the hardest races I’ve done but we’re ecstatic. We came into with the pressure off us but we both were nervous, we wanted to do well and show what we can do. We love road racing.” Niamh McCarthy (left, F41 discus, silver) “It was a hard competition and I pulled through in the end. I got what I came here for. I wouldn’t change anything in the past few months. I felt guilty wanting the others not to do well but they did throw well; I just threw better.”

Colin Lynch (C2 men's time trial, road, silver): "It's something that I have worked at for four years. It's an absolute dream to finally achieve the one thing that I didn't have in the closet and that was a Paralympic medal.

“After London I had to do a lot of soul searching. I changed everything, new coaches, new equipment.

"I got a new cycling leg made for Rio. The [prosthetic] leg, for me, is the most important piece of equipment. An ill-fitting leg is as bad as an ill-fitting pair of shoes."

Orla Barry (F57 discus, silver): "It feels fantastic. Maybe I can complete the collection. To know that you're progressing, that your hard work isn't going to waste [is satisfying] and [also to deliver] for everyone at home supporting you and my coaches; it's for all of them.

Ellen Keane (SB8 100m Breaststroke, bronze): "When I finished, looked up and saw the three beside my name, I just freaked out. I knew from the morning that we only had to drop one person and knew a couple of the other girls were playing it easy but I watched the video analysis and Alan [Swanton – video analyst] said 'you kind of panic,' so just think 'long and strong'. It's an amazing feeling to be coming home with a medal."

Noelle Lenihan (left, F38, discus, bronze): "The atmosphere was ridiculous, it was beyond what I thought it would be. I had a little niggle in my shoulder but it stood up fine. This is for him [her father and coach, Jim ], I want to thank him so much for what he has done. We are a team."