Nicole Turner takes gold and Dearbhaile Brady bronze at Para Swimming European Championships

Turner was awarded the race alongside Switzerland’s Nora Meister after they touched the wall at the same time

Ireland swimmers Nicole Turner, joint gold medallist and Dearbhaile Brady, bronze medallist, after the Women's 50m freestyle S6 final during day five of the Para Swimming European Championships at the Penteada Olympic Pools Complex in Funchal, Portugal. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ireland swimmers Nicole Turner, joint gold medallist and Dearbhaile Brady, bronze medallist, after the Women's 50m freestyle S6 final during day five of the Para Swimming European Championships at the Penteada Olympic Pools Complex in Funchal, Portugal. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Nicole Turner claimed her first golf medal at a major championship in the S6 50m freestyle final at the Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira on Thursday night.

In a race that went right down to the wire, Turner touched the wall at the same time as Switzerland’s Nora Meister to claim joint gold, her second medal this week.

Turner’s Ireland team-mate Dearbhaile Brady followed right behind to win bronze, her first ever major championship medal.

Speaking after the final Turner said: “That was special and to do it as a joint was even more special. To be honest the 50 free I love it. It’s an event that I really enjoy and I did really enjoy that race”.

READ MORE

Brady said: “It was quite a shock seeing my name come up there. I was really nervous coming into the race but I’m really proud of how I swam”.

Róisín Ní Riain finished eight in the S13 50m freestyle final in a time of 28.75 and will contest the 400m freestyle on Friday.

Barry McClements is back in the pool for his second event, the 100m backstroke, while Turner goes in a direct final of the 100m breaststroke.