Despite being the youngest member of the Irish team, Nicole Turner certainly didn’t perform like a novice on her Paralympic debut yesterday. The 14-year-old swimmer from Portarlington was reflecting with pride last night after reaching the final of the S6 women’s 50m butterfly final.

Paralympic debuts can a nerve-wracking experience at the best of times, but to do it at the age of 21, running from the front with a visual impairment, must make it all the more terrifying.

The Paralympics are underway in London this morning with several Irish athletes involved.