John Fulham has been elected as President of Paralympics Ireland ©Paralympics Ireland

John Fulham has been elected as the President of Paralympics Ireland at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The four-time Paralympian will serve a four-year term at the organisation and succeeds Jimmy Gradwell, who had led Paralympics Ireland for two successive terms spanning eight years.

“Having been involved in the Irish Paralympic movement as both a competitor and an official for 30 years I have a unique understanding of the landscape,” said Fulham.

“While considerable success and progress has been achieved to date I believe we need to work hard together to ensure our people; athletes, coaches and officials continue to be given the best support in their preparations, while also ensuring that disability sport in Ireland continues to grow.”

Fulham competed for Ireland at four Paralympic Games from Barcelona 1992 through to Athens 2004, contesting the 100 metres and 200m wheelchair events.

He won European and national titles in the disciplines, as well as triumphing at the Dublin marathon on three occasions.

Fulham also played on the Irish wheelchair basketball team for 14 years, before joining the Irish Wheelchair Association Board upon his retirement from athletics.

Having served as the communications officer for several years, Fulham was elected as the Paralympics Ireland vice-president in 2013.

Eimear Breathnach, a two-time Paralympian in table tennis, was re-elected as Paralympics Ireland’s vice-president at the AGM.

Irish Wheelchair Association Sport nominee Mairéad Farquharson was elected as the second Vice President.

“I’ve been privileged to watch tremendous Irish athletes win a staggering 27 Paralympic medals, twelve of which were gold,” said outgoing President Jimmy Gradwell.

“We have seen a substantial increase in investment from Sport Ireland over time, grown the organisation from four to ten staff, won the support of commercial partners, achieved an international voice, and seen our athletes and their performance become mainstream in terms of media coverage and public awareness, amongst numerous other elements of note.

“Naturally there will be challenges ahead but as a collective we can continue to push forward the Paralympic agenda in Ireland and increase support for the athletes.

“I wish John, the incoming board and CEO; Miriam Malone the very best of luck as they chart this great organisations path over the coming years, I treasure the memories of an amazing time as President.”

Paralympics Ireland members also approved the organisation’s annual report and financial statements for 2016 at the AGM.