Two Bronze Medals within minutes for Team Ireland on day six of Paralympic Games

In a matter of five minutes, Team Ireland doubled their medal tally at the Paralympic Games in Paris this evening when both Róisín Ní Riain and Orla Comerford won bronze in their respective events. 

Róisín Ní Riain continues to shine in the City of Light, adding a second medal to her Paris 2024 campaign. The Limerick native won a magical Paralympic bronze in the final of the women’s SM13 200m Individual Medley on day six of the 2024 Paralympic Games. In doing so, the 19-year-old claims Team Ireland’s third medal at these Games.   

Ní Riain blazed through four lengths of the La Défense water to come home in third place with a time of 2:27.47, winning the second Paralympic medal of her career. Italian Carlotta Gilli won gold in 2:25.33, with Team USA’s Olivia Chambers taking silver in 2:25.90.  

Speaking directly after the final, Ní Riain said: “I would say with that one, that’s a final swim. I’ve been on the wrong side of the IM touches now for the last three years, so to be able to come out and finally get on the right side of a touch, I couldn’t be happier. I’m delighted with that. You know, the Medley is kind of what I train for at home, day in, day out. It’s the Medley work that I’m doing, temporary of all my strokes, but ultimately for this IM swim.”  

“So, I’ve been stuck on the same time and fourths for a long time now, so it’s nice to be able to crack a third. It was a pretty solid swim this morning, and it was really just to be able to build on that swim. I had a couple of technical things to work on, of which I may or may not have done. Still have to go back and rewatch it, sit down like we do all the time, and it was a good swim, but there’s definitely areas to improve like always.” 

Speaking on the support in the stadium as well as her coach John Szaranek, she added: “The Irish supporters are lovely. For them to be here and to see me win a medal, it’s as much for them as it is for me. And to have my coach here as well, John, who’s been with me for the last good few years now, that’s really great to do with him here as well. And he’s been my support along with my group and my centre (National Centre Limerick) back at home as well. They’ve been excellent.” 

 Within minutes of Róisín’s win, on the track, Orla Comerford won Team Ireland’s fourth medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games following a stunning display in the T13 100m Final.  

 Comerford stormed home to win bronze in a time just outside her personal best of 11.94. The race was won by Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva who set a new world record of 11.76. Silver went to Rayane Soares da Silva of Brazil who crossed the line just behind the leader in a time of 11.78. 

 It is a first Paralympic medal for the 26-year-old who previously represented her country at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. 

 Speaking after the race, Comerford said, “It feels insane! My initial feelings crossing the line were of disappointment and then when I turned around and saw my family I was like, I can’t be disappointed with that. It’s such an honour and a privilege to do it with them all here. Brian’s family are here, my club members are here. I’d have taken your hand off for that a couple of years ago so I have to take in the moment, enjoy it and let it fuel me now for the next four years. 

 Speaking about how close she was to a PB, she said, “Yeah but I feel there’s lots more in the tank. I was disappointed not to (get a PB). I reckoned at the start of the year that it would take a world record to win it. That’s what I had my eyes on. I know that’s ambitious but I think that’s well within my wheelhouse.” 

 “I’m excited for the next cycle, to push on towards that and faster. I think our group of girls are all pushing each other faster and faster each year which is what we love to see in Para sport so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.” 

 Speaking about the race, she said, “I’ve no recollection of the start, I usually feel like I come off the track and almost remember too much of it, like I was in my head a bit too much. I just got up and I remember feeling the girls there in front of me and I was just pushing as much as I could. I didn’t want to get tense, or tighten up. I just wanted to run my own race.” 

 “My first medal though, I have to be delighted and it’s so lovely to have so much Irish support here. It feels really like a home Games. Good God, if you told me back before Tokyo that I’d get a medal at this one I would have jumped for joy. I think I probably have high expectations for myself and I think that’s a good thing.”  

Back in the pool and earlier, Barry McClement pitted himself against fierce competition, which included the gold, silver and bronze medallists from Tokyo 2020, a World Record holder and French star Ugo Didier, who was welcomed to stage to a deafening cheer. The National Centre (Ulster) swimmer, who is competing in his second Paralympic Games, posted a time of 1:50.56 to finish in eighth place in the 100m Backstroke S9 Final.  

Speaking directly after his race, McClements said: “My turn wasn’t great at the halfway point, if that had been fixed it might have been a different result, but it was a quick fast race, and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t my main event, so I just concentrated on having a good swim and enjoying it. It was great to hear my family and friends cheering me on in the stands.” 

McClements will be back in the water on Friday for his favoured event, the 100m Butterfly (S9).  

Both Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner headed to the blocks for the 50m Butterfly S6 Final, both competing in finals for the second time at Paris 2024. Both athletes kept with the pack throughout the race with Brady going quicker than her heat swim (38.73) to set a new lifetime best of 37.67, finishing fifth at her first Paralympic Games.  

Turner, who won silver in this event at Tokyo 2020, was in contention throughout the race but was unable to maintain her challenge against a world class field. Turner stopped the clock on 38.59 to finish sixth, both Turner and Brady concluded their Paris 2024 campaign.  

Speaking in the mixed-zone, Brady said: “That went really well, that was a PB for me, so I’m delighted with that. I’m a lot faster than I was last year, that’s how much I’ve changed. I wasn’t too nervous. I decided it’s the final and I didn’t know what was going to happen, so I went out to enjoy it. I’m really happy how I finished.” 

Turner said: “If I’m honest I just wanted to go out and enjoy that race, I did it, but I think the last couple of metres I just didn’t have it in me. The podium would have been nice today, but it just didn’t happen. I planned to get quicker off the block, and I didn’t feel that bad, but I’ve worked so hard to be here and for that I’m delighted to be in Paris, not everyone gets the opportunity to compete at a Paralympics Games.” 

In Para Equestrian, Michael Murphy’s horse ‘Cleverboy’ lived up to his name when the pair scored a top 10 Paralympic finish in the Grade 1 Individual competition on the first day of dressage competition at the spectacular Chateau de Versailles arena. 

The 27-year-Londoner with Cork roots, finished ninth with a score of 70:417% in a particularly high-quality competition where gold was won with 79.1% and it took 74.6% to win bronze. 

Murphy described the test with his 17-year-old black gelding as “the ride of my life” and they were just outside the top eight who will contest Saturday’s Grade 1 Freestyle Final, missing out by a mere .416 of a percentage. 

He was particularly thrilled to exorcise the memory of Tokyo three years ago when he had an early blip and finished 18th. 

“The first day in Tokyo didn’t go to plan, I lost a rein and Cleverboy really looked after me that day, so it was really nice to go in on day one this time and ride properly, especially in such an amazing arena. I’m feeling incredible,” he enthused. 

“In the four years I’ve been working with Cleverboy he has taken me around the world, and to heights I could never have imagined. To be able to go into an arena like that and perform so well together, I’m so happy.” 

The pair will be in action again on Friday because they provide Ireland’s compulsory Grade 1 rider for the three-person team event, whose selection will be announced tomorrow, once Sarah Slattery has competed in the Grade 5 individually. 

Murphy is openly optimistic about their chances, “The fact that we managed to qualify a team says a lot about the journey we’re on as a nation,” said the 2022 World bronze medallist.”  

“We’ve some really, really talented young riders like Jessica McKenna who only made her debut here today, so I think we’ve got a really exciting team and there’s plenty more to come.” 

Earlier Wicklow rider Kate Kerr-Horan came similarly close to making the Grade III Freestyle final when she also finished ninth with her nine-year-old bay gelding Lyykebo’s Don Akino. 

They were eighth, with a score of 65.867 %, until the final rider, from Sweden, edged them out. but it was also a massive improvement on the 31-year-old’s 18th place finish in Japan. 

Kerr Horan was absolutely delighted with her performance, saying: “Honestly it was like a dream out there. He was so good the whole way through. We’ve only been together for a year, so to perform like that, on the biggest stage, I’m really, really happy.” 

Young Cork dressage rider Jessica McKenna also made a particularly impressive Paralympic debut in the same Grade III event, finishing 10th on Davidoff 188 with a score of 65.033%, just one place behind Kerr Horan. 

“I feel like it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said the 23-year-old equine business student whose partner only had one obvious falter on an early turn on his haunches. 

McKenna said: “You put so much preparation in and then it is over so quickly but I am very happy with that. We had just one moment that I’d say got us docked points, but otherwise Davidoff was just great and it was an incredible experience.” 

Day 6 Paralympics Games Evening Results (Tuesday 3rd September) 

Day 7 Paralympics Games Schedule (Wednesday 4th September) (times subject to change) 

*pending qualifying results