Ni Riain adds another level to impressive haul at European's
The Drombanna native added a third medal of a highly successful week at the European Championships
THERE was more medal success for Limerick’s Róisín Ní Riain at the World Para Swimming European Championships with silver in the 200m Individual Medley final in Kocaeli.
The Drombanna native produced another outstanding performance, leading the field heading into the final 50m after going stroke for stroke with Italy’s Carlotta Gilli through the opening three lengths.
Ní Riain fought all the way to the wall, stopping the clock at 2:28.15 to claim the European silver medal, adding to the gold and silver she had already won this week. Speaking after the final Ní Riain said:
“That hurt so much at the end. I must have left it all out there until the 150m because I had absolutely nothing on that last 50m, but I gave it my best.
“That’s my first 200m IM of the year, so to put down a time which I think might be my second fastest ever, I can’t be anything but happy.
“I’m a real competitor; I love to get out there and have a good race. I said to my coach when I was doing the entries that I wanted to get in some good scraps and races. That was the thought process behind entering so many races this week. It brings out the best in me.”
Two hours later, she was back on the blocks to race one length of the pool in the 50m Freestyle final (S13). Ní Riain stopped the clock in 28.49 to finish fourth but the action doesn’t stop here for Ní Riain.
She is back the pool on Saturday for the 400m Freestyle where she will hope to make her way back to a podium finish and be in the hunt for further medal success.