Kieran Behan has had to face his fair share of adversity in his athletic career and indeed his life, but he always comes back swinging.
The Team Ireland gymnast failed to progress to the final of the men’s artistic gymnastics in Rio last night after finishing with an overall score of 83.222.
Heading into the final event, the floor, Behan was confident of making the top 24 to qualify for the individual all-around competition. However, disaster struck early into his routine when he injured his knee landing his first tumbling line. The 27-year-old limped off and had to be taken out of the arena in a wheelchair.
He is set to travel to London for an MRI scan on the knee.
Kieran Behan dislocated his knee on his floor routine but still carries on-what a hero. #ThePowerWithin #TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/Kcw6bxFPYc
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) August 7, 2016
Behan revealed to RTE that he had dislocated his knee during the routine and he even considered ending his Olympics prematurely because of the injury. However, this thought didn’t last long as he bravely fought through the pain to finish the routine.
“I did my first tumbling line, double-double and as I landed, I dislocated my knee. It’s not popped back in yet. I don’t know, I went to stop after the first tumble because I felt it go and then I just thought I’d carry on.”
“Going into floor I felt very good. I knew what routine I’m capable of on floor, but it’s life at the end of the day. Throughout my whole life I’ve had little bits of bad luck here and there and it’s just one of those things.”
Despite his performance being hindered because of the injury, Behan remained incredibly positive about the situation, accepting the fact that it was one of those things that was out of his control.
“I’m very proud to have stepped out here to this arena and given it a shot. I just want to thank everyone back home – my family, my friends and everyone who’s supported me. It really does mean the world to me and… it’s one of those things. I know it’s bad and I could feel it straight away, but hey!”
A hugely positive Kieran Behan remains philosophical following a dislocated knee and Olympics exit #rterio2016 https://t.co/BP3OBRMBEC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 7, 2016
Those of you who are aware of Behan’s inspirational story won’t be shocked by his bravery in showed such bravery in Rio. Behan had been told at 11 that he may never walk again following complications during surgery to remove a tumour in his leg that resulted in severe nerve damage which left him restricted to a wheelchair.
He returned to gymnastics 15 months later.
At age 12, he suffered a freak accident in training that left him confined to a wheelchair for nearly three years. Behan slipped and fell off the High Bar during a session and banged his head causing brain damage and an injury to his inner ear that affected his brain function and co-ordination skills.
Again, Behan defied all the odds and put in all the hard work to learn to do simple things such as move his head in the right direction and sit up, but he managed to come back and represent Ireland in not one, but two Oympics.
