Five Team Ireland Athletes Qualify for Finals in Bumper Morning of Paralympic Competition
In a thrilling morning for Team Ireland at the Paralympic Games, five athletes across Para Swimming and Para Athletics have secured their places in the finals, showcasing their skill and determination on the world stage.
Para Swimming Success
In the pool, Barry McClements got Team Ireland off to a strong start in the S9 100m Backstroke Heat. McClements finished in fourth place with a time of 1:05.35, earning his spot in the final, which takes place this evening at 16:37. Reflecting on his performance, McClements said, “I’m happy, the plan was to get into the final. I think I can definitely go faster tonight. My form has been building since Tokyo, and I’m happy the hard work is paying off.”
Nicole Turner and Dearbhaile Brady both impressed in the S6 50m Fly Heat. Turner claimed third place with a time of 38.10, while Brady followed closely in fourth at 38.73. Both swimmers qualified for the final, set for 17:05 this evening. Turner emphasized the importance of staying loose and having fun, saying, “It’s all about being happy and having a bit of fun. It’s going to be really nice later on with all my friends and family there.”
Meanwhile, Róisín Ní Riain, already a silver medalist, delivered another solid performance in the SM13 200m IM Heat, finishing second with a time of 2:30.75 to secure her place in tonight’s final at 19:04. “It was a solid morning swim, job done,” Ní Riain said. “The aim for the final is always to swim faster than in the qualifying round.”
Ellen Keane, competing in the S9 100m Backstroke, delivered a valiant performance but finished sixth with a time of 1:17.63, just outside her personal best. This race marked the end of Keane’s competition at these Paralympic Games. An emotional Keane reflected on her career, saying, “It’s really hard to put into words how I’m feeling, I’m just so grateful. The support and love I’ve received has been amazing.”
Para Athletics Triumph
On the track, Dubliner Orla Comerford powered to victory in her Women’s 100m T13 Heat, finishing in 12.02 seconds. This strong performance secured her place in tonight’s final, where she will face stiff competition from reigning Paralympic champion Adiaratou Iglesias Forneiro of Spain. Comerford expressed her excitement, stating, “I was feeling really confident coming into today’s race. The support has been overwhelming, and I feel very lucky.”
Near Miss in Para Equestrian
In Para Equestrian, Kate Kerr-Horan narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Grade III dressage final. Competing with nine-year-old gelding Lyykebo’s Don Akino, Kerr-Horan scored 65.867%, placing her in ninth overall, just outside the top eight needed to reach the final. Despite the disappointment, Kerr-Horan was pleased with her performance, saying, “Honestly, it was like a dream out there. We’re such a new partnership, so to perform like that on the biggest stage, I’m really, really happy.”
Her teammate, Jessica McKenna, also made an impressive Paralympic debut, finishing 10th in the same event with a score of 65.033%. Both riders remain hopeful for participation in the Team event later this week.
Afternoon Schedule
A packed schedule awaits Team Ireland later today, with five finals on the horizon:
• 15:08 – Michael Murphy, Para Equestrian, Grade I Individual
• 16:37 – Barry McClements, Para Swimming, S9 100m Backstroke Final
• 17:05 – Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner, Para Swimming, S6 50m Fly Final
• 19:04 – Róisín Ní Riain, Para Swimming, SM13 200m IM Final
• 19:13 – Orla Comerford, Para Athletics, T13 100m Final
Looking Ahead
As the day progresses, Team Ireland’s athletes continue to push boundaries and aim for personal bests, with the hope of bringing home more medals from Paris.