After a standout 2024 season filled with European and Paralympic triumphs, Róisín Ní Riain has added yet another accolade to her collection—being named the Irish Independent Young Sportstar of the Year.
Her dominance at the Para Swimming European Championships, where she earned two gold medals, made her a standout choice. The trip proved to be an extraordinary success for both Ní Ríain and the entire team, with a total of twelve medals earned, five of which were claimed by Ní Ríain herself. Her exceptional showing in Madeira provided a promising preview of what was to come at the Paralympic Games just four months later.
The 19-year-old Limerick native made history as Ireland’s first Paralympic medallist in Paris, claiming silver in the women’s S13 100m backstroke—an event in which she had previously won world gold in 2023—before securing bronze in the individual medley.
