The World Para Swimming European Open Championships are set to get underway on Sunday, 16th May in Funchal Madeira, with three Irish swimmers competing on the opening day of seven-day event.
First up on Day 1 for Team Ireland will be Patrick Flanagan, Jonathan McGrath and Róisín Ní Ríaín. S8 swimmer, Jonathan McGrath will be aiming for a place on the podium on Sunday, as he will go straight to the evening final in the S8 400m Freestyle. Patrick Flanagan will be hoping to also to join Jonathan in the evening session, as he competes in the morning heat of the S6 100m Backstroke, Patrick will be aiming to hit the Minimum Qualification Standard time for Tokyo 2020 this week. Róisín Ní Ríaín, who is making her debut appearance for Team Ireland, will do so in the S13 100m Butterfly Final, Róisín is the only Irish swimmer competing each day throughout the week.
The event will serve as a key opportunity for some athletes to hit Minimum Qualification Standard times (MQS) for Tokyo 2020, while others, who have already achieved this, will use it as an opportunity for some much-needed competitive swimming prior to the Paralympic Games, as well as finishing on the podium and winning European medals.
The European Open Championships were set to take place in 2020, it was rescheduled due to the pandemic, although taking place in 2021, it has retained its original name Madeira 2020. The event will see around 380 athletes from 47 nations in action at the Penteada Swimming Pools Complex, running from 16-22 May. World Para Swimming and the Madeira 2020 Local Organising Committee have implemented a series of COVID-19 counter measures, with the event taking place in a strict competition ‘bubble’.
Team Ireland Day One Schedule:
Morning Session:
10:17 – Men’s S6 100m Backstroke – Patrick Flanagan
Evening Session:
17:35 – Men’s S8 400m Freestyle Final – Jonathan McGrath
18:05 – Women’s S13 100m Butterfly Heat – Róisín Ní Ríaín
All heats and finals will be shown live on our Facebook page and the official World Para Swimming website HERE.
Stay tuned to our social media channels for more information, including live results.
