After a long week of waiting Tokyo gold medallist Ellen Keane was finally able to get her World Championships up and running and she did so in great style. Posting a season-best swim in the 100m breaststroke she won her heat, sending her through to this evening’s final.
Speaking after her heat Keane said, “I woke up this morning feeling good. I didn’t just want to mess around and just make the final I wanted to do a good swim so that I could analyse it and try and make improvements for the final, so yeah, I’m happy!”
Ní Riain was next in the pool during this morning’s session. The Limerick woman finished second in her heat, qualifying her for the final this evening. Speaking after her heat Ní Riain said, “It wasn’t too bad, it was a heat swim so job done it’s just about getting back and rest and recovering as best I can for later on.”
Evening Finals
Keane was first to contest her final this evening at the Para Swimming World Championships. Her swim was just short of gold medal glory, however her silver medal guarantees Team Ireland another slot for Paris 2024.
Speaking after her final Keane said, “I’m delighted, obviously I’m disappointed not to have won the gold medal and it is my last world championships so that opportunity is gone but I’ve booked another slot for Paris and I’m so happy with that.”
Ní Riain finished out her world championships with fourth in the 200m IM final. The Limerick swimmer won silver and gold throughout the week and was the first to qualify a slot for Team Ireland at Paris 2024.
Speaking after her final Ní Riain said, “It’s not quite the result I would have liked but I think these are the kind of swims that you learn from so I can go back home and put in a good year and hopefully put in a better one next time.”
Last up for Team Ireland on day 7 seasoned swimmer Turner faced off against newcomer to the team Dearbhaile Brady in the 50m butterfly final.
Turner was unlucky to miss out on a bronze medal in her final by the tightest of margins.
Speaking after her final Turner said, “It was tough to finish on but I think everyday is a learning day and I did learn a lot from that race and a lot can happen in para sport. I went in third and came out fourth.”
Dearbhaile Brady had a strong swim in her first world championships appearance finishing in 5th behind her teammate Turner.
Speaking after her final Brady said, “Swimming against world class athletes was just amazing. I grew up looking up to Nicole and even swimming against her at a national level is amazing.”
Para Swimming World Championships Team Ireland Full Results
Day 1: Róisín Ní Riain, 100m Butterfly Final (S13) / 01:06.00 / 2nd Place
Day 2: Róisín Ní Riain, 100m Breaststroke Final (S13) / 01:18.99 / 4th place
Day 3: Barry McClements, 100m Butterfly Heat (S9) / 01:01.39 / 3rd place
Day 3: Nicole Turner, 200m IM Final / 03:09.63 / 5th place
Day3: Barry McClements, 100m Butterfly Final (S9) / 01:01.54 / 5th place
Day 4: Róisín Ní Riain, 100m Backstroke Final (S13) 01:06:62/ 1st place
Day 5: Barry McClements, 400m Freestyle Heat (S9) 04:32.59 / 4th place
Day 5: Nicole Turner, 50m Freestyle Heat (S6) 35.01 / 2nd place
Day 5: Barry McClements, 400m Freestyle Final (S9) 04:30.58 / 7th place
Day 5: Nicole Turner, 50m Freestyle Heat (S6) 34.71 / 5th place
Day 6: Róisín Ní Riain, 400m Freestyle Heat (S13) 04:48.11 / 3rd place
Day 6: Barry McClements, 100m Backstroke Heat (S9) 01:06.37 / 4th place
Day 6: Róisín Ní Riain – 400m Freestyle Final (S13) 04:42.74 / 5th place
Day 6: Barry McClements – 100m Backstroke Final 01:05.90 / 6th place
Day 6: Nicole Turner – 100m Breaststroke Final (S6) 01:41.35 / 5th place
Day 7: Ellen Keane – 100m Breaststroke Heat (SB8) 01:22.45 / 1st place
Day 7: Róisín Ní Riain – 200m IM Heat (S13) 02:33.01 / 2nd place
Day 7: Ellen Keane – 100m Breaststroke Final (SB8) 01:21.43 / 2nd place
Day 7: Róisín Ní Riain – 200m IM Final (S13) 2:29.11 / 4th place
Day 7: Nicole Turner – 50m Butterfly Final (S6) 36.94 / 4th place
Day 7: Brady – 50m Butterfly Final (S6) 38.77 / 5th place