Róisín Ní Riain and Nicole Turner got Team Ireland’s Paralympics Swimming off to a flying start by securing their places in their respective Finals this evening.
Ní Ríaín came 4th in her S13 100m Butterfly Heat earlier today with a time of 1.06.40. Her final takes place this evening at 19.10 Irish time.
“I’m happy with that and to get out there for the first swim,” she said.
“It’s a good time, and I’m into the final, so its job done this morning. Whenever I get out to swim, I want to give my best for myself. Whatever happens after that, I’ll be happy with that. I was expecting it to be loud. I had a French girl in my heat, so I knew it was coming – it was nice.”
Nicole Turner also booked her place in the final of the S6 50m Freestyle when she came 3rd in her heat earlier today with a time of 35.35. Her final takes place later this evening at 18.17 Irish time.
Turner, who is competing in her third Paralympic Games, and went into this morning ranked fifth overall, said: “I’m quite happy; it’s a nice opener. The crowd is a lot different from Tokyo, but it drives us on that extra bit. The time is just outside my personal best. The aim for this evening is to get closer to that, if not better.”
On her ambitions in Paris, Turner added: “I just want to enjoy myself. Tokyo was quite special for me, but it’s been a long three years. I’ve learned to enjoy the sport as serious as it is. I want to enjoy myself and see what happens after that.”
Swimming four lanes over was Turner’s Irish teammate, Dearbhaile Brady, making her first appearance on the Paralympic stage. The Derry swimmer posted a time of 36.45 to finish fifth in her heat and tenth overall. The 17-year-old set a new lifetime best, breaking her previous time of 36.76 set in May at the Irish Open National Championships in Dublin.
Brady, one of the youngest members of Team Ireland, said: “I’m really happy; it went well. It was a personal best. I came out today very nervous; I think it’s good to have them. With it being my first Games and first event, I was hoping to make the final, but it didn’t happen. I still have one more event, so I’m going to put my head down.”
Elsewhere on the Para Cycling track, Richael Timothy progressed to the C1-3 3000m Women’s Individual Pursuit Final when she recorded a personal best time of 4.05.247 in her heat coming 7th overall.
18:17 Nicole Turner 50 M Freestyle Final **
19:10 Roisin Ni Riain 100 M Butterfly Final **
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