The Irish Para Swimming Team will return to Ireland today laden with medals after a successful week at the Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira, Portugal.
The team of six swimmers collected a staggering 12 medals over the course of the week including three golds between Roisin Ni Riain and Nicole Turner.
Limerick swimmer Roisin Ni Riain had by far the busies schedule of the week, with 6 races to contest, five of those with heat stages. She rose to the occasion and returns to Ireland with five medals: 2 gold, 3 silver and one bronze.
Paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane competed in two events, coming away with silver in her preferred event the 100m breaststroke. This was the last European Championships for Keane as she will retire after the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer.
Nicole Turner had an excellent week in the pool, coming away, one gold, one silver and two bronze. Her gold medal in the 50m freestyle on day 5 was the most exciting of her finals, ending with joint gold being awarded as Turner and her competitor touched the wall at the exact same time.
Dearbhaile Brady has experienced the world stage already having competed at the Para Swimming Championships last August in Manchester, however this was her first time at these European Championships. Additionally, she competed in three events, a big step up from her one event at Worlds. She was delighted to claim her first ever medal at a major winning bronze alongside her teammate and idol Nicole Turner in the 50m freestyle final.
It was also a huge milestone for newcomer to the team Deaton Registe as he made is first major championships debut with the team. He competed in one event, the 100m breaststroke final and finished 4th in 01:09.38.
Barry McClements competed in two events over the week and was delighted to secure his first ever European Championships medal in the 100m butterfly.
All Results from 2024 Para Swimming European Championships:
Day 1: Róisín Ní Riain, 100m Butterfly Heat / 01:06.70 / 1st Place
Day 1: Róisín Ní Riain, 100m Butterfly Final / 01:06:32 / 2nd Place
Day 1: Dearbhaile Brady – 100m Backstroke Final / 1:50.58/ 6th Place
Day 2: Róisín Ní Riain – 100m Breaststroke Final / 01:18.00 / 1st Place
Day 3: Nicole Turner – 200m IM Heat / 03:15.35 / 2nd Place
Day 3: Dearbhaile Brady – 200m IM Heat / 03:32.00 / 3rd Place
Day 3: Barry McClements – 100m Butterfly Heat / 01:02.46 / 3rd Place
Day 3: Deaten Registe – 100m Breaststroke Final / 01:09.38 / 4th Place
Day 3: Nicole Turner – 200m IM Final / 03:15.89 / 3rd Place
Day 3: Dearbhaile Brady – 200m IM Final / 03:33.62 / 5th Place
Day 3: Barry McClements – 100m Butterfly Final / 01:01.44 / 3rd Place
Day 4: Róisín Ní Riain – 100m Backstroke Heat / 1:08.02 / 1st Place
Day 4: Ellen Keane – 100m Freestyle Heat / 1:07.72 / 4th Place
Day 4: Róisín Ní Riain – 100m Backstroke Final / 1:06.69 / 1st Place
Day 5: Róisín Ní Riain – 50m Freestyle Heat / 28.82 / 3rd Place
Day 5: Nicole Turner – 50m Freestyle Final / 35.51 / 1st Place (joint)
Day 5: Dearbhaile Brady – 50m Freestyle Final / 36.85 / 3rd Place
Day 5: Róisín Ní Riain – 50m Freestyle Final / 28.75 / 8th Place
Day 6 Róisín Ní Riain – 400m Freestyle Heat / 4:55.22 / 2nd Place
Day 6: Barry McClements – 100m Backstroke Heat /1:05.67 / 3rd Place
Day 6: Róisín Ní Riain – 400m Freestyle Final / 4:44.62 / 3rd Place
Day 6: Barry McClements – 100m Backstroke Final / 1:04.52 / 4th Place
Day 6: Nicole Turner – 100m Breaststroke Final / 1:44.72 / 3rd Place
Day 7: Ellen Keane – 100m Breaststroke Heat / 1:25,09 / 1st Place
Day 7: Róisín Ní Riain – 200m IM Heat / 2:33.63 / 1st Place
Day 7: Ellen Keane – 100m Breaststroke Final / 1:24.19 / 2nd Place
Day 7: Róisín Ní Riain – 200m IM Final / 2:31.55 / 2nd Place
Day 7: Nicole Turner – 50m Butterfly Final / 37.70 / 2nd Place
Day 7: Dearbhaile Brady – 50m Butterfly Final / 38.49/ 4th Place
