There wwas more success for team Ireland in Rio last night as Ellen Keane won the Bronze medal in the SB8 100m Breaststroke final in a time of 1.23.07.
Keane aged 21, colleceted the teams fourth medal of the day afeter she came from behind in the final 25 meters to snatch third from Poland’s Paulina Wozniak, with two seconds to spare in a timee of 1:23.07.
A delighted Keane told reporters afterwards: “I’m a bit emotional, I think I’m a bit in shock! I knew from the morning that we only had to drop one person and knew a couple of the other girls were playing it easy but I watched the video analysis earlier and Alan (Swanton) said ‘you’re not at a high stroke rate for breaststroke , you kind of panic so just think ‘long and strong.”
“As I felt the two girls beside me go forward I was like ‘don’t panic, keep it long and strong!’ When I finished I didn’t think I’d won a medal and then I looked up and saw the three. I was looking at the numbers frantically! I couldn’t believe it! I’m actually a bit annoyed at that time because I know I can go faster but I just created my own luck there in being the most recovered.”