Swimmer Róisín Ní Riain secured Ireland’s first medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games last night. 

The 19-year-old earned the silver medal in the 100-metre backstroke with a time of 1:07.27. 

The race was won by world and Paralympic record holder Gia Pergolini (USA) in a time of 1:04.93. 

Italy’s Carlotta Gilli was third in a time of 1:08.08. 

This is Ms Ní Riain’s first Paralympic medal as her star continues to rise in swimming. 

Róisín Ní Riain after finishing the 100m backstroke at the 2024 Paralympics. Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Friday 30th Aug 2024

Gold medalist Ellen Keane narrowly missed out on a medal in the 100-metre breaststroke, falling short by just two-tenths of a second. 

She will be back in the pool on Tuesday for the S9 100m backstroke heats. 

Galway native Shauna Bocquet qualified for today’s T54 final after finishing fourth in yesterday’s heat. 

Katie O'Brien and Tiarnán O'Donnell finished fourth in the PR2 mixed double sculls heat with a time of 9:03.33 and they will now go to repêchage. 

Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Eve McCrystal finished fifth in the Para-cycling Woman’s b 1000m time trial. 

Paralympian Ellen Keane after finishing fourth in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paralympics. Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Today, para-cyclist Richael Timothy will compete in the C1-3 500m time trial to qualify for the final. 

Ms Timothy previously told Newstalk she is not “participating” at the Paralympics – she is “competing”. 

"I think it's more so that the Olympics are [seen as] the main event and then the Paralympics is after it," she said. 

"Whereas the way we look at it is, we train for four years, we qualify over the four years and then we come to compete. 

Richael Timothy of Ireland during the women's C1-3 500m time trial qualifying at the 2024 Paralympics. Image: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

"We don't just come to participate. 

"I think it has improved over the years, but I don't think it bothers anyone on Team Ireland because we all know how athletic we are, how much we've trained, how much time we've put in.” 

She said she is “trying to put that message” to people watching the Paralympics from home.