Ireland’s Róisín Ní Riain clinched a fantastic bronze medal for Ireland on the opening day of the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. The young Limerick athlete produced a superb finish to hold off Joanna Mendak from Poland and claim her medal by just ¼ of a second.
Ní Riain, who competed at Tokyo 2020 last September, swam a time of 1:10 in the heat but she knocked nearly a second off that as she shoed true grit and determination to edge out her Polish competitor and clinch bronze at her first ever World Championships.
Speaking immediately after the race Róisín said ‘I’m absolutely delighted, I wasn’t expecting it, I was hoping but I wasn’t expecting it so I am absolutely thrilled’
This marks the start of a busy week for Ní Riain who will compete for more times, including tomorrow when she will again compete for a medal in the SB13 100m Backstroke Final.
Earlier today Ellen Keane confirmed that she will not race in her Individual Medley event but will compete on Saturday in the SB8 Breaststroke heats, the same event in which she secured her Paralympic Gold medal. Ireland’s newest Para Swimmer, Amy Sheridan also had the honour of being the flag bearer for Team Ireland and was joined for the ceremony by Ellen Keane.
For the full interview with Róisín Ní Riain please click here: https://youtu.be/eC24Ql4u0zw
For the full interview with Ellen Keane and Amy Sheridan please click here: https://youtu.be/JqlTizXhFAg
Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships Results
Róisín Ní Riain, Women’s 100m S13 Butterfly Final, 1.09.05, 3rd place *Bronze Medal
Róisín Ní Riain, Women’s 100m S13 Butterfly Heat, 1:10.6, 4th place
Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships Schedule
Day 2-Monday June 13
Róisín Ní Riain, Women’s SB13 100m Backstroke Final
Day 3-Tuesday June 14
Nicole Turner, SM6 200m Individual Medley Heat
Barry McClements, S9 100m Butterfly Heat
Amy Sheridan, S9 100m Butterfly Heat
Day 4- Wednesday June 15
Róisín Ní Riain, S13 100m Backstroke Final
Day 5- Thursday June 16
Barry McClements, S9 400m Freestyle Heats
Nicole Turner, S6 50m Freestyle Heats
Day 6- Friday June 17
Róisín Ní Riain, S13 400m Freestyle Final
Barry McClements S9 100m Backstroke Heat
Nicole Turner SB6 100m Breaststroke Heat
Day 7- Saturday June 18
Róisín Ní Riain, SM13 200m Individual Medley Final
Nicole Turner, S6 50m Butterfly Heat
Ellen Keane, SB8 100m Breaststroke Heat
