Menu
Day six of the Paralympic Games served up a thrilling morning for Team Ireland in the La Défense Arena with five Para swimmers in the water for the morning heats, a morning which included Róisín Ní Riain, Barry McClements, Nicole Turner and Dearbhaile Brady all advancing into tonight’s final. While Ellen Keane graced the pool for one final time before she hangs up her goggles.
It was an emotion filled morning in Paris as Ellen Keane said farewell to the swimming pool, a place she has called home for over 20 years and a place where she lifted the nation on several occasions, all while inspiring people across Ireland and further afield throughout her career which spanned over five Paralympic Games, her first as a 13-year-old in Beijing 2008.
At Tokyo 2020, the Clontarf local reached the pinnacle of her career, crowned the 100m Breaststroke (SB8) Champion. On Friday, we witnessed an agonising fourth place finish in the same event. This morning was about Keane going out on her terms, it was about soaking it all in, it was about enjoying the process, it was one last dance before bowing out. The darling of Irish Para swimming left the main stage for one last time, the breaststroke specialist dipped into the water for the 100m Backstroke (S9), clocking 1:17.63 to finish fifth in her heat and twelfth overall.
Speaking after her last ever Paralympic event, an emotional Ellen said, “It’s really hard to put into words how I’m feeling, I’m just so grateful, I’m glad that finished on an event that isn’t my main one because I just didn’t feel the pressure, I just wanted to go out there and enjoy what racing feels like and enjoy the routine of it. Even putting on my racing suit and then sitting in the call room waiting to compete I watched Barry (McClements) make the final and I was just so proud of him.
“I keep crying but I don’t know why, my face just keeps getting wet. I don’t even know it’s happening. It’s a really emotional day. The support and love I have been getting from here, in Paris, at home in Ireland and across the globe has just been amazing. To have the support of my family and friends, even my dancing with the stars family has all been messaging me, I really really felt the love. Winne the Pooh said it best, when he said ‘how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard’.”
Following her stunning silver medal last week, Róisín Ní Riain was back in the water for the 200m Individual Medley (SM13) Heat. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer posted 2:30.75 to finish second in her heat and will head into tonight’s final as third fastest qualifier.
Speaking after the race she said, “It was a solid morning swim, and job done, it was good to get out. The plan was to feel good, have a good swim and make it back tonight (for the final) and I was able to do that so I’m happy out. I’d like to think I have more to give tonight, that’s always the aim for a final, is to swim faster than you do in the qualifying round.”
Barry McClements entered the La Défense Arena water for the first time this week to become a two-time Paralympian, competing in the 100m Backstroke S9 Heat. The National Centre (Ulster) swimmer clocked 1:05.36, finishing fourth in his heat and eight overall to secure a lane in tonight’s final.
Speaking after the event, McClements said, “I’m happy, the plan was to get into the final, I knew I just had to beat four people so I finished in eight and I think I can go faster tonight (in the final). My form has been building since Tokyo and I’ve been getting faster so I’m happy the hard work is paying off. I’m very happy, finals tonight and hopefully, I’ll get a PB.”
S6 duo Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner took to the water in the 50m Butterfly Heat. Turner came third in the heat and fifth overall with a time of 38.10. Brady stopped the clock just after Turner with a time of 38.73, finishing fourth in her heat and qualifying sixth fastest overall to join Turner in the final tonight.
Turner said, “I’m okay. This morning was about staying loose, getting rid out the nerves, having fun and coming back later and do my thing. I’m happy.”
She added, “It’s all about being happy and having a bit of fun. It’s going to be really nice later on. All my friends and family will be there – my family were here the last day too – but all my friends came over last night. Those were the moments you missed from Tokyo. Tonight, will be really nice.”
Brady commented, “I felt very good, better than my 50m freestyle. They (nerves) were kind of there in the call room, but not as bad. I was ready to get in there and swim. It went according to plan. It was fast, I gave it everything as I wasn’t sure about a final.”
Róisín Ní Riain continued to shine in the City of Light, adding a second medal to her Paris 2024 campaign. The Limerick native won a magical Paralympic bronze in the final of the women’s SM13 200m Individual Medley on day six of the 2024 Paralympic Games.
In doing so, the 19-year-old claimed Team Ireland’s third medal at these Games, a fourth was added minutes later in Para Athletics.
Ní Riain showed her class throughout, sitting in fourth position for the first three strokes before blazing through the La Défense water for the last 50-metres to come home in third place with a time of 2:27.47, pipping Uzbekistan’s Toshpulstova to bronze by .08 of a second, Ní Riain winning her second Paralympic Games medal.
Italian Carlotta Gilli won gold in 2:25.33, with Team USA’s Olivia Chambers taking silver in 2:25.90.
Speaking after the race, Ní Riain said, “I would say with that one, that’s a final swim. I’ve been on the wrong side of the IM touches now for the last three years, so to be able to come out and finally get on the right side of a touch, I couldn’t be happier. I’m delighted with that. You know, the Medley is kind of what I train for at home, day in, day out. It’s the Medley work that I’m doing, temporary of all my strokes, but ultimately for this IM swim.
“I’ve been stuck on the same time and fourths for a long time now, so it’s nice to be able to crack a third. It was a pretty solid swim this morning, and it was really just to be able to build on that swim. I had a couple of technical things to work on, of which I may or may not have done. Still have to go back and rewatch it, sit down like we do all the time, and it was a good swim, but there’s definitely areas to improve like always.”
Speaking on the support in the stadium as well as her coach John Szaranek, she added, “The Irish supporters are lovely. For them to be here and to see me win a medal, it’s as much for them as it is for me. And to have my coach here as well, John, who’s been with me for the last good few years now, that’s really great to do with him here as well.
“He’s (John Szaranek) been my support along with my group and my centre (National Centre Limerick) back at home as well. They’ve been excellent. We have a really great group; they spur me on every single day to be the best that I can be in training and competition. I have my coach John here with me, it really means a lot to have him here and his support, and all my coaches back home.”
Earlier this evening, Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner headed to the blocks for the 50m Butterfly S6 Final, both competing in finals for the second time at Paris 2024. Both athletes kept with the pack throughout the race with Brady going quicker than her morning swim (38.73) to set a new lifetime best of 37.67, finishing fifth at her first Paralympic Games.
Turner, who won silver in this event at Tokyo 2020, was in contention throughout the race but was unable to maintain her challenge against a world class field. Turner stopped the clock on 38.59 to finish sixth, both Turner and Brady concluded their Paris 2024 campaign.
Speaking in the mixed-zone, Brady said, “That went really well, that was a PB for me, so I’m delighted with that. I’m a lot faster than I was last year, that’s how much I’ve changed. I wasn’t too nervous. I decided it’s the final and I didn’t know what was going to happen, so I went out to enjoy it. I’m really happy how I finished.”
Turner said, “If I’m honest I just wanted to go out and enjoy that race, I did it, but I think the last couple of metres I just didn’t have it in me. The podium would have been nice today, but it just didn’t happen. I planned to get quicker off the block, and I didn’t feel that bad, but I’ve worked so hard to be here and for that I’m delighted to be in Paris, not everyone gets the opportunity to compete at a Paralympics Games.”
Barry McClement’s was back on the blocks this evening for the 100m Backstroke S9 Final, pitting himself against fierce competition. Which included the gold, silver and bronze medallists from Tokyo 2020, a World Record holder and French star Ugo Didier, who entered the arena to a deafening cheer.
McClement’s, who is part of the National Centre (Ulster) programme under his coach Kevin Anderson, posted a time of 1:50.56 to finish in eighth place, in his second Paralympic Games.
Speaking directly after his race, McClements said, “My turn wasn’t great at the halfway point, if that had been fixed it might have been a different result, but it was a quick fast race, and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t my main event, so I just concentrated on having a good swim and enjoying it. It was great to hear my family and friends cheering me on in the stands.”
McClements will be back in the water on Friday for his favoured event, the 100m Butterfly (S9).
Get all the latest news about upcoming sporting events, top tips on training and exclusive interviews.
