Turner & McClements ease into World Para Swimming Championships finals
Paralympic silver medallist Nicole Turner showed no signs of rustiness as she eased through her heat at the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships on Tuesday morning.
Turner finished third in her heat (3:15.86) and third overall in the SM6 200m Individual Medley.
The Great Britain duo of Maisie Summers Newton and Grace Harvey took first and second position respectively but Turner will be hopeful ahead of this evening's final, which goes off at 6.56pm.
Turner said afterwards: "It's not my main event so I’m not putting a hell of a lot of pressure on myself. If I can go faster and something comes of that I won’t complain."
She'll be joined in the finals session by her team-mate Barry McClements, who was fourth overall in his S9 100m Butterfly Heat.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympian comfortably qualified for his first final of the championships as he finished narrowly outside his PB, touching the wall in 1:02.82, within one second of third.
McClements will race for a medal at 7.18pm.
"Tonight I'm definitely going to be gunning for that PB, 1:01 pace maybe, hopefully, even better with the 60 point," he said. "I’m happy, it shows I’m in good form so looking forward to tonight."
There was a championships debut for Amy Sheridan who finished seventh in her first ever race at a major para swimming event.
Sheridan was the final Irish competitor in the pool this morning as she competed in the heats of the Women’s 100m Butterfly S9 event and she battled gamely to finish in seventh place.
"It’s been a really good experience, I loved it. To finally be able to get out and race, it’s so good," she reflected.
"It’s been such a pleasure to have these people following me and where I come in my swimming and, to have that support, it’s amazing."