Ní Riain and Turner lead Irish final chances in pool 

Ireland’s Roisin Ni Riain. Pic: Tom Maher

Ireland will have four finalists in this evening’s pool session at the Paralympics Games after a very impressive morning of heat swims.

Roísín Ní Riain will contend for a second medal in the SM13 200m individual medley. 

She was second in her heat, in a time of 2:30.75, and third fastest overall. The Limerick teenager was particularly strong in the middle backstroke and breaststroke legs.

“It definitely does give you a bit of confidence,” said Ní Riain of already having a medal in the pocket, “but I always try to go out there with a clear and fresh mind into every race.

“Had to park that swim from last week and move on from that. I’ve had a couple of days off to get over that and get my head straight for today. That was the aim of this morning: just get out and have a good swim.

“I’m happy I did that. I’ll go back and have a look now and see where I can improve and pick up a couple of seconds for later, hopefully.” 

Nicole Turner is the other strong Irish medal chance in this evening’s pool session. The 22-year-old qualified fifth fastest in the S6 50m butterfly event that she won a silver medal in at Tokyo three years ago.

Turner’s time of 38.10 that placed her third in her heat is well down on the 36.30 she posted to win Paralympic silver, and she will certainly need to go sub-38, at the very least, to get back near the podium.

“It’s all about being happy and having a bit of fun. It’s going to be really nice later on. All my friends and family will be there – my family were here the last day too – but all my friends came over last night. Those were the moments you missed from Tokyo. Tonight will be really nice,” said the Portarlington native.

Turner will be joined in that S6 butterfly final by Dearbhaile Brady. The Derry teenager swam 38.73 to finish just behind Turner in the heat and progress sixth fastest to the final. It’s a final that goes to the blocks at 5.05pm.

Barry McClements was the first of the Irish into the water on Day Six and the first into a final. It was he who set the tone. The above-knee amputee clocked 1:05.36 in his S9 100m backstroke heat to take fourth and, also, the last lane for this evening's final (4.37pm).

Ellen Keane, as expected, did not progress from her S9 100m backstroke heat. Her final swim before retirement ended with a sixth place finish.

Over at the Stade de France, Orla Comerford won her T13 100m heat in a time of 12.02 to advance third fastest to the final later today (7.13pm).

Tokyo silver medalist Lamiya Valiyeva of Azerbaijan ran an 11.80 PB in the other heat to establish herself as the gold medal favourite. 

Also in that heat, Brazil’s Rayane Soares da Silva clocked a lifetime best of 11.90, equal to Comerford’s best.