It is becoming a rarer and rarer thing to be proud of an Irish team on the international stage, except rugby and cricket, but this week the Irish Special Olympics team took LA by storm claiming 86 medals on their way to a record haul.

Ireland’s Special Olympics athletes did their country proud with wins in basketball, football, athletics, equestrian, gymnastics, badminton, bocce, aquatics and table tennis in this year’s World Games in Los Angeles, California.

Team Ireland's 128 members, which consists of 88 athletes and 40 coaches and managers, celebrated a haul of 26 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze medals.

Thirty-one personal bests and 43 placement ribbons were also achieved. It is without a doubt a great occasion for Irish sport that we have so many talented athletes representing us on an international leveland they should be celebrated when they return on Tuesday.

Congratulations Team Ireland.