With Paris 2024 on the horizon for Team Ireland, Paralympics Ireland today confirmed the slot allocation for Para swimming at an event to coincide with six months to go until the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Speaking at the event Paralympics Ireland Chef de Mission, Neasa Russell, made the announcement that six slots have been confirmed for Team Ireland in Para swimming. The athletes who will take those seats on the short flight to Paris have yet to be selected, with a team announcement expected later in the year prior to the Games taking place, which will get underway 26th August – 8th September.
Paralympics Ireland were joined by members of the Irish sporting community and the French Ambassador to Ireland, Vincent Guérend, at The Helix in DCU to celebrate the milestone and hear the stories of some of the athletes hoping to qualify.
Some of those Para swimmers hopeful of being selected for Team Ireland recently continued their preparation at the Para Swimming World Series event in Melbourne, Australia. Róisín Ní Riain stole the show, winning five gold medals across the S13 50 and 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly and 200 Medley.
Nicole Turner claimed the S6 gold medal in the 50 Butterfly, closely followed by her Irish teammate Dearbhaile Brady in second. While Tokyo Paralympic champion, Ellen Keane (SB8) claimed 50 Breaststroke silver on the opening day of the meet, while Lisburn swimmer, Deaten Registe continued his impressive form with a bronze in the S14 100 Breaststroke.
Ireland finished second place in the medal table only behind hosts Australia who had a whopping team of 61 swimmers feature in the event.