Cillian Dunne, the Tipperary wheelchair racer, is back on the international stage and doing it in style. This afternoon, 16 August 2025, he takes his place in the men’s T54 800 metre wheelchair race at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, with the gun scheduled for around 1.35 pm Irish time.
He's no stranger to this level of competition. Earlier in the summer, Dunne made a proud return to Para Athletics after a two-year break, sharing with Spoke Out that stepping away from training was part of getting back in touch with the person behind the racer. That break seems only to have made him more grounded and determined.
This isn’t his first Diamond League crack. In fact, he’s taking part in his second invitation-only event of this kind, something he described as the highest honour a Para athlete can receive. Given how these elite field line-ups read, pairings of Olympic stars and record-chasing runners, just earning a slot is a confident nod to his standing in the sport.
Looking back, Dunne’s debut at Silesia wasn’t about finishing on the podium. He came in fourth in the men’s 800m wheelchair race with a time of 1 minute 48.40 seconds, not bad at all beside seasoned competitors like Jordi Madera Jimenez and Joshua Hartley. It was proof enough he belongs among the best.
This afternoon presents another tall order, with a strong field again lining up. Dunne himself acknowledged how much it means to race in front of thousands, para-sport needs exposure, he said, and this certainly delivers.
Because his race forms part of the pre-program, it won’t be televised. Coverage on TV begins at 3 pm Irish time and runs through to 5 pm. You can, however, still keep up with Dunne’s race through the live results here: Results
Best of luck to Cillian in Silesia this afternoon.
