Paralympic silver medal winner Roisin Ni Riain reveals what ‘spurred me on’ to win Ireland’s first medal in Paris

RÓISÍN NÍ RIAIN put on her best sister act to storm to Paralympic silver in the Women’s S13 100m Backstroke final in Paris. Ní Riain powered into second in a time of 1:07.27 to win her maiden Paralympic medal.

And the Limerick swimmer said: “I have three sisters and they all swim so it’s definitely nice to do it with them around. “I’m delighted. It makes it extra nice with my friends and family here to watch as well.



“My whole training group a lot of them are here so it’s really nice to do it with them here. “To have everyone here spurs me on as well. “I’ll have to go back and look at the race but I was happy overall.

"We’ll sit down and analyse it. "Everyone says to me how much I love racing and I really genuinely do. "I was coming in tonight like, ‘Oh God, I missed not swimming this morning’.

“Why I love it so much is every single time you go out to race you can learn something new. “It’s a great feeling to win Ireland’s first medal but it’s definitely only the start for Ireland.” Shortly after Ní Riain’s triumph, Ellen Keane was two tenths of a second off the medals, coming fourth in the 100m SB8 Breaststroke final in 1:24.

69. The Dubliner said: “I’m disappointed but I really tried. I can’t have any regrets.

"I really felt it in my legs towards the end. “I know it was just a margin off third but if I finished that race and still had energy and came fourth, I’d be so annoyed. FOOTBALL legends Tony Cascarino, Stuart Pearce, Andy Reid and Neil O'Riordan will join The Irish Sun’s first live football preview event on Tuesday September 3 ahead of the Republic of Ireland v England match in The Aviva that weekend.

Goals Live 2024, in association with TonyBet and hosted by well-known sports commentator Dave McIntyre, promises to be an evening of entertainment, discussion, analysis and lively debate as the panel delves into the upcoming big match between football rivals the Republic of Ireland and England. The event, which is for over 18s only, will take place in The Camden, Dublin 2, from 6.15pm – 9pm.

The ticket includes a complimentary drink for attendees and each ticketholder will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a pair of match tickets to the big game in the Aviva on Saturday September 7. Tickets are just €5 and available to purchase HERE . “I’m happy and proud of myself that I tried.

It was so close. I always knew it was going to be a fight. “When it comes to being a champion you can define that in different ways.

"It’s about being brave enough to show you give it your all — and that’s what I did.” In the Velodrome earlier, Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal finished fifth in the Women’s B 1000m Time Trial final with a time of 1:09.447.

Dunlevy said: “We’re happy with the ride. Fifth in a 1km is great.” Josephine Healion — piloted by Linda Kelly — made her Paralympic debut in the same B 1000m time trial but missed out on qualifying.

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