| Helen Kearney | |
| Nationality: | Irish |
| Birth Date: | 6 June 1989 |
| Birth Place: | Wicklow, Ireland |
| Education: | University College Dublin |
Helen Kearney (born 6 June 1989) is an Irish Paralympic equestrian. She won three medals in the 2012 Summer Paralympics and also competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Kearney was born on 6 June 1989 in Wicklow, Ireland.[1] She was educated at Newbridge College.[2] When she was 10 years old, her parents enrolled her and her sister in horse riding lessons.[3] Two years later, she was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia during an operation for scoliosis.[4]
Kearney began competed in Grade III in 2008 before being reclassified as 1A. In this classification, she won Ireland’s first European para-equestrian medal with a bronze.[5] Kearney subsequently became the first member of Para Equestrian Ireland to earn a medal in the 2011 European Championships.[6]
As a student at the University College Dublin, she qualified for the 2012 Summer Paralympics and earned three medals.[7] Kearney earned a silver medal in the Individual championship test grade Ia and a Bronze Medal in the team event.[8] Her last medal came in the Individual freestyle test grade Ia where she won bronze.[9]
In 2016, Kearney was again selected to compete with Team Ireland at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[10] During the Grade 1a Individual Championship, she finished in 12th place.[11]