Laois swimmer Nicole Turner wins silver in 50m butterfly at Paralympics 2020

Portarlington's Nicole Turner produced a personal best when it mattered most to win Paralympic silver in the final of the S6 50m butterfly this morning.

The 19-year-old Laois athlete swam an impressive time of 36.30 seconds to deliver Ireland’s second medal of the 2020 games in the pool.

China’s Yuyan Jiang — who set a new world record of 34.56 in Monday morning’s heats — won gold with another exceptional time of 34.69.

Turner chased her home as the next best in a stacked final, with just over a second separating second place from sixth.

“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in at all,” she told RTÉ moments after the final.

“Coming in to Tokyo, looking back on Rio being so close to that bronze medal, the aim after Rio was just to get on the podium in Tokyo, but I never in a million years thought I’d be silver. I always thought I’d be in a fight for bronze.”

On Saturday, Turner finished seventh finish in the 100m breaststroke (SB6) final.

Nicole's silver is Ireland's fourth medal of the games, with Turner joining the cycling duo of Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal as silver medalists, with Ellen Keane and Jason Smyth winning gold.

Nicole Turner wins silver medal in the 50m butterfly (S6)! It's Ireland's fourth medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. #rtesport #paralympics #paraswimming https://t.co/fWFiuv09nB pic.twitter.com/jkm2aI8HSt

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 30, 2021

An overjoyed Nicole Turner was shaking with excitement as she spoke to @Darrenfrehill about her brilliant silver medal swim https://t.co/WnFPRxuuVq #rtesport #paralympics #paraswimming pic.twitter.com/t1l0aTCVo5

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 30, 2021

Kellie Harrington reacted emotionally to Nicole's win, tweeting: "I am balling my eyes out, Nicole Turner what an incredible swim, but what an incredible person, I'm lucky to know Nicole and genuinely she is one of the hardest working people I know and to top it she is just such a beautiful human her smile can light up any room."

I am balling my eyes out, Nicole Turner what an incredible swim, but what an incredible person, I'm lucky to know Nicole and genuinely she is one of the hardest working people I know and to top it she is just such a beautiful human her smile can light up any room 💚🇮🇪 https://t.co/ISSHMgdj2t

— Kellie Harrington (@Kelly64kg) August 30, 2021