Ellen Keane breezes into final at World Championships

Ellen Keane eased into the final of her favoured SB8 breaststroke event at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira after dominating her heat on Saturday morning.

The Paralympic gold medal winner took the lead at the turn from Spaniard Dmytriv Dmytriv and never relinquished her grip on the race as she stretched for the wall to progress as the number one-ranked swimmer for the final.

Keane had suffered from a Covid-19 infection prior to the World Championships and joined the rest of the team late at their training camp in Fuerteventura.

She also pulled out of her individual medley event earlier this week to rest up for today's final.

However, the 27-year-old showed little sign of the effects of her illness as she led the heat home to ensure that she will race for a medal this evening at 5.05pm.

"I’ve had a week of rest so I think it was a good idea to pull from the two (200) IM," said Keane afterwards.

"It paid off. I feel good, so now it’s all about recovering and getting back in later to see if I can make that podium."