Paralympics round-up: Nicole Turner finishes seventh in final

James Scully recorded personal best in heats of S5 50 metres freestyle but misses final

Ireland’s Nicole Turner: finished seventh in the final of the S6 200 metres Individual Medley at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio. Photograph: Sportsfile
Ireland’s Nicole Turner: finished seventh in the final of the S6 200 metres Individual Medley at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio. Photograph: Sportsfile

Ireland's Nicole Turner finished seventh in the Women's S6 200 metres Individual Medley final following the disqualification of Ukrainian swimmer Yelyzaveta Mereshko.

The 14-year-old Laois teenager was fifth after the Butterfly leg but dropped three places in the Backstroke and couldn’t make any impression in the final two legs.

Turner had earlier finished fourth in her heat of the S6 200 metres Individual Medley in 3.17.09 and that was good enough to make the final as the eighth fastest qualifier.

The 14-year-old qualified for her third final in as many events - a noteworthy achievement.

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Britain's Ellie Simmonds won the heat and went on to secure the gold medal, becoming the first person to break three minutes in the event, winning in a time of 2:59.8.

Afterwards, Turner said: “To think I’ve finished the last three days in the top 10 in the world, it’s hard to believe.

“I used to look up to Ellie and it’s kind of freaky now that I’m competing against her.”

Meanwhile Dublin-born James Scully recorded a personal best 37.38 in the heats of the S5 50 metres freestyle but it was only enough for seventh place and as a result he misses out on a final.

Kildare’s Seán Baldwin continued his shooting campaign in the Paralympics finishing 20th in the R7 50 metre Rifle 3 Positions. He goes again on Wednesday.

Ireland's three-person keelboat (Sonar) of John Twomey, Austin O'Carroll and Ian Costelloe finished 10th in Race one. They were six after the first two marks and fifth rounding the third before turning from home but faltered on the run-in. The came home 14th in the second race and will have two more on Tuesday.

Ireland's Deirdre Mongan finished fifth in the Women's F53 shot putt final at the Olympic stadium. Her throw of 4.04 metres was 72 centimetres behind the gold medal winner Fatema Nedham and 24 centimetres off a bronze. The three medal winners either managed a regional record, a personal best and a season's best throws.

“It was way off what I wanted or would have expected. The conditions were not great and it’s disappointing` when you know you are capable of more. I do struggle in the heat and was unfortunate to b throwing on one of the hottest days.”

Patrick Monaghan has withdrawn from the 80 metres due to a medical issue but is hopeful that he will be able to take part in the Marathon on Sunday.

Elsewhere Ireland lost 5-1 to Great Britain in the Seven-a-side football, their goal coming from Conor Tuite. They won’t progress to the medal matches having lost to Ukraine (6-0) and Brazil (7-1) but do have one final game to determine whether they finish seventh or eighth.

Helen Kearney finished 20th in the Dressage 1A team test. She will ride again tomorrow and later in the Games in the individual event.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer