Nicole Turner competed in her second final of the week after her bronze medal heroics from Day 3. This time Turner competed in the 50m Freestyle S6 final and produced her second fastest swim ever over the distance to come home in 5th place with a time of 35.80 seconds.
This final provided the Paralympic silver medallist with an excellent opportunity to compete over the 50m distance which she will do again in her favoured event on Saturday in the 50m Butterfly. In a top class field it was the Ukrainian athlete, Anna Hontar, that was roared home to the gold medal in a new World Record time of 32.75 seconds. Hontar was followed home by Vargas Blanco from Colombia and Ellie Marks from the USA.
Speaking after her race Nicole said “I actually changed up, I tried something new, this morning I took one too many breaths, so I tried to manage three there and I did so that was the aim out of the final and whether it worked or not was the question and it did thankfully and it’s about a half second faster than this morning so I’ll take that”
Earlier, Barry McClements produced another battling performance to finish narrowly outside his Personal Best time in 7th place in the final of the S9 400m Freestyle Final at the World Para Swimming Championships Madeira 2022.
In a field that included World Champions and World record holder, Brendan Hall, it was always going to be difficult for the 20 year old Irish racer. However, he battled bravely throughout to touch the wall in 4:28.73. The race was won by Italian superstar, Simone Barlaam, in a new European Record of 4:10.78.
Speaking after the race McClements said “Definitely, the feeling in the water, and sticking to the race plan and things like that, it’s a lot better than it was before. Right now it’s all about getting that experience and, hopefully, by the time I’m in Paris the PB’s will come with that.”
It is a busy day for Team Ireland on the penultimate day of competition at the World Para Swimming Championships Madeira 2022 as both Barry McClements and Nicole Turner return to the pool for the Heats in the morning session and they are joined by double bronze medallist Róisín Ní Riain who progresses straight to the final of the 400m Freestyle.
