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Orla Comerford
MEET THE SPEAKER

Orla Comerford.

World Para Champion & Paralympic Medallist

Paralympian Orla Comerford is a double World Para-Athletics Champion (100m & 200m), Paralympic bronze medallist, and speaker on confidence, identity, and inclusive leadership. Diagnosed with Stargardt disease at 11, she has built a career defined by resilience and elite performance. Through honest storytelling and practical tools, Orla empowers organisations and teams to embrace challenges, strengthen self-belief, and transform differences into powerful drivers of performance.

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Biography

Paralympian Orla Comerford is a double World Para-Athletics Champion and Paralympic bronze medallist, and offers a compelling voice on confidence, identity, and inclusive leadership. A three-time Paralympian, she has represented Ireland at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 where she sprinted to a breakout bronze medal in the T13 100m and was Ireland’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer.

In 2025, Orla reached the pinnacle of her sport at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, becoming a double World Champion over 100m and 200m. Combined with European Championship medals and a personal best set at the Oslo Diamond League, she continues to elevate Ireland’s Para-Sprinting presence on the global stage.

Diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a progressive visual impairment, at just 11, Orla’s story is one of navigating evolving identity while performing under pressure. Her speaking explores resilience, self-belief, and leading with authenticity. 

Articulate, and energetic, Orla engages audiences across corporate environments, education, and DEI forums. She blends elite sport insights with lived experience to deliver actionable strategies for adapting to change, building confidence, and fostering cultures where difference is a competitive advantage.

Book World Para Champion & Paralympic Medallist, Orla Comerford for your event, contact Front Row Speakers on (0)1 485 3991 or email welcome@frontrowspeakers.com

Speaking Topics

  • Breaking Barriers: Building resilience through setbacks 
  • Performance Mindset: Staying focused when it matters most 
  • Confidence and Identity: Owning your story in sport, work, and life 
  • Creative Problem-Solving: Lessons from sport and the arts 
  • Inclusion and Representation: Championing diverse voices and perspectives