Born in Louth, Ireland in 1960, he became disabled after falling off a motorbike aged 18.

Formerly he was a track and field athlete who won Bronze in the men's marathon 1B at the 1984 Summer Paralympics.

[1] Ronan made his official return after a 12-year absence from the Paralympics in 2012, playing once again in men's singles and teams.

This time, his wife, Rena McCarron Rooney, took part in women's table tennis, and they are believed to be the only married couple competing in the London Paralympics.

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