Turner, McClements & Ní Riain set for World finals

Barry McClements and Nicole Turner both progressed comfortably to their respective finals after competing in their heats this morning at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira.

Both athletes maintained their record of having qualified for every final they've competed in so far this week and they will be joined in the finals session by Róisín Ní Riain, who automatically qualified for her S13 400m freestyle final.

McClements was the first Irish athlete in the water this morning. He finished fourth in his S9 100m backstroke heat to qualify in fourth place overall for this evening's finals.

McClements never looked under pressure as he cruised comfortably into the final and will now target a new lifetime best time.

"Well first of all I want to PB, so whatever comes with that is a bonus I guess," he said. "Hopefully I can at least maintain fourth place and I will be happy with that."

Turner followed her compatriot into the final in the very next race as she qualified in fifth place overall, third in her SB6 100m breaststroke heat behind the American duo of Herzog and Lettenberger.

Turner was largely untroubled but all of the finalists will be wary of the form of Great Britain’s Maisy Summers Newton, who set a new European Record in the second heat of the event.

"If I’m a bit faster I’ll be very happy but tonight is just about enjoying myself and then getting the last bit of fresh air out of the water before I enter it in the morning," said Turner.

Day 6 Finals Schedule

Róisín Ní Riain - S13 400m freestyle final, 5.05pm

Barry McClements - S9 100m backstroke heat, 7.22pm

Nicole Turner - SB6 100m breaststroke heat, 7.27pm