It was all about the water overnight
DOUBLE PROGRESS IN CANOEING FOR O’LEARY
There was double delight for Cork paddler Patrick O’Leary overnight as he qualified for the semi-finals in both of his canoeing competitions, the KL3 200m and the VL3 200m, despite competing in a massive rainstorm in Tokyo.
O’Leary was sixth in the kayak final in Rio when canoeing was first introduced to the Paralympics and he had no trouble getting through to tomorrow’s KL3 semi-finals (2 am Irish time) in his first race.
He finished fifth in a time of 43.502 in a heat won by the reigning KL3 champion Serhii Yemelianov in 40.766 who was followed across the line by the Rio silver and bronze medallists, Calo Ribeiro de Carvalho (Brazil) and GB’s Tom Keiry (GB).
Ninety minutes later the Galway-based chemistry lecturer was back on the water at the rain-swept Sea Forest Waterway for the inaugural heats in the Va’a discipline, a new event raced in a canoe with an outrigger and just one paddle.
He entered the VL3 heats as reigning European champion but was again in a stacked heat that included Australia’s Curtis McGrath (who is chasing double gold in Tokyo) and Britain’s world bronze medallist Stuart Wood. He qualified safely in fifth position in a time of 54:470 and the semi-finals are on Saturday (from 10:15 Irish time).
“They were both good races. I got a really good race in the Va’a, had a bit of a wobble in the middle so that’s something to work on but I got it back together again towards the end in a fairly stacked heat so I’m pretty happy with that.”
“The KL3 was also stacked but in some ways, I’d prefer to have those guys in the heat because that means I’ll avoid them in the semi when I get the draw later on.”
“It’s great to get those first races done because generally speaking, I improve as regattas go on. Only the winners went straight through to the final so the stakes were relatively low and getting a hit out at no cost to me was really important.”
“I have a better idea of where I am in the kayak and think I’ll be there or thereabouts in terms of making the A final. The problem with the Va’a is that there’s a lot of non-Europeans in them that we hadn’t seen yet this year and they were showing some style out there today. Just looking forward to the semi-finals now.”
FLANAGAN MAKES DEBUT
Team Ireland’s Patrick Flanagan made a dream become a reality at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Patrick became a Paralympian as he was the last of the Irish Para Swim team to make their first appearance at Tokyo 2020. Patrick competed in the S6 400m Freestyle Heats and swam a strong time of 5:40.48 as he came home in 7th place in his heat. The young Sligo man who grew up in Longford was immensely proud to finally become a Paralympian and spoke about what it would mean to his parents watching at home:
“My mum is probably going crazy right now, I’m just so happy to be here and they were so good to me”
KEANE ADDS FIFTH PLACE TO GOLD
Ellen Keane and Róisín Ní Riain both completed their Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games programme with personal best performances yesterday.
Keane, who already claimed a gold medal this week, entered the final of the SM9 Women’s 200m Individual Medley in the hopes of putting together her best performance in the event and she certainly delivered on that.
Sitting in fourth place at the end of the first 100m she put in a brilliant 50m Breaststroke to enter the final 50m with hopes of challenging for a medal. However, it was not to be but the Dubliner still powered home to finish in 5th place in a time of 2:38.64 and a new personal best performance.
“I hadn’t really reflected that much on it, after my breaststroke it was just a whirlwind, I knew I wanted to swim well in my IM so I was just trying to get focussed and not get too caught up in it but even now I can feel the emotions creeping in so yeah it’s been a great games”
“I really want to say a big thank you to everyone at home who has cheered me on and cheered the whole team on and I just want to give a special mention to my team mate Patrick who hasn’t started his games yet so he is in the pool tomorrow and I hope everyone will cheer him on for his 400 tomorrow and 100 backstroke the next day”
Ireland’s busiest Paralympian at Tokyo 2020 also brought her campaign to a close and it was one that will live long in the young Limerick woman’s memory. In her last event she maintained her brilliant record of reaching finals at her first games and then she set herself a new personal best in the SB13 100m Breaststroke as she touched the wall in 7th place with an excellent new personal best. Róisín can now reflect on an excellent first appearance at the Paralympic Games where she appeared in five final and set new PB’s in four of them.
“I’m very pleased with that race, it was faster than this morning, another PB so I can’t complain about that and I’m very happy.”
“Looking back I think it’s been amazing, I’ve loved every minute of it and tried to take it all in, and overall it’s been a pretty amazing experience you know, to be part of the Paralympic Games.”
MCCLEMENTS ENDS CAMPAIGN
Barry McClements competed this morning in his favoured 100m Butterfly event and finished slightly outside his personal best after a brave showing from the young Ards man.
McClements competed in a strong field and stayed in touch with the leaders throughout the first 50m, he then powered through the final 50m eating into the lead with every stroke but, as the wall approached, he was left despairingly short of a third-place finish that would likely have seen him qualify through to the final.
After two personal bests and a finals appearance, McClements was still very happy with how he has competed at the games overall.
“I always knew I would final here and I did that. I can’t beat myself up too much, but, looking forward to Paris, and yeah I have full confidence in myself that I will be on the podium there.”
FITZGERALD TO ENTER ARENA
Mary Fitzgerald makes her debut in the arena tonight.
We caught up with her prior to the team’s departure.
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