Kay McShane

Kay McShane (1948/1949 – 20 December 2019) was an Irish wheelchair athlete.

Career Her record of three consecutive wins in the 1984–1986 London Marathon women's wheelchair race remained unequaled for nearly 20 years until Francesca Porcellato tied the record in 2005 and then broke it in 2006.

McShane competed in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Paralympics, in events ranging from the 800 metres to the marathon. She took a silver medal in the marathon in 1984, and two bronze medals in the marathon and 800 metres in 1988.

Life McShane was born in Fermoy and raised on Spike Island in Cork Harbour. She contracted polio as a child, and as a result used a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Kay McShane died on 20 December 2019, aged 70, of cancer.