‘Only the start for Ireland’ – Róisín Ní Riain basks in Paralympic medal glory

At the age of just 19, Ireland’s Róisín Ní Riain can now call herself a Paralympic medallist. The Limerick teenager stormed to a silver medal in the final of the women’s S13 100m backstroke to get Ireland up and running at these Games. The teenager has long since been tipped to become the next big thing in Irish para-swimming, and her clinical performance showed she was ready for the big occassion.

Having made her Paralympics debut at the age of 16 in Tokyo, Ní Riain was excited to get her second chance in Paris with her family and friends watching on in the La Defense Arena. ‘I’m delighted with that swim and it makes it extra nice with my friends and family here to watch as well,’ she said afterwards. ‘That was a really nice feeling to hear (the huge roar when she emerged on the pool deck ahead of the final).



To have everyone here to support me definitely spurs me on as well.’ ‘It’s a great feeling to win Ireland’s first medal but there’s so much more to come. It’s definitely only the start for Ireland.

’ Shortly after Ní Riain’s medal win, Ellen Keane was two-tenths of a second off the medals, coming fourth in the 100m SB8 breaststroke final with a time of 1:24.69. ‘Obviously I’m disappointed in not making the podium but I really tried.

I can’t have any regrets. I really felt it in my legs towards the end of that race,’ admitted Keane. ‘When it comes to being a champion I think you can define that in many different ways.

It’s about being brave enough to show that you give it your all and that’s what I did. ‘I’m so grateful that I’m here and I’m really looking forward to the next phase of my life. I think I’ll still be involved in some way, shape or form in Paralympic swimming and Paralympics.

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