Orla Comerford is a sprinter born in Dublin in 1997. From a young age, she excelled in sports, with athletics always holding a special place in her life.
+ Watch the video of Orla Comerford showcasing Ireland’s uniforms
Comerford began running at just six years old for the Raheny Shamrocks club. In 5th grade, she began to notice a gradual loss of vision and was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative condition that affects central vision. Despite this challenge, she never gave up on her sporting ambitions.
At just 18 years old, Comerford made her Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, where she reached the final of the 100m T13, finishing in eighth place.
In 2018, she won a bronze medal at the European Championships in the 100m and 200m, and later represented Ireland at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.
In 2023, Comerford secured her spot for the 2024 Paralympic Games by finishing 4th in the World Para Athletics Championships, missing the podium by just 0.06 seconds.
In addition to her sporting achievements, Orla Comerford was one of Ireland’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, alongside Colin Judge.
Off the track, she works part-time at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and holds a degree in Fine Art Media from the National College of Art and Design.
Photo and video: Instagram @orla_comerford. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.