Ireland's Nicole Turner has announced her retirement from Paralympic swimming.
Turner is best known for competing in three Paralympic Games: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021, and Paris 2024. She was also the flagbearer for Team Ireland during the closing ceremony at Rio 2016.
Her major achievements include a silver medal in the S6 50m butterfly at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics, multiple European Championship medals (including four at Madeira 2021: two silvers and two bronzes), a World Championship bronze in 2019, and gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2024 Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira.
Turner started her stellar career swimming with the Portarlington Piranhas before joining Laois Marlins and training at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. She made her international debut in 2015.
Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara said that Turner's accomplishments for Ireland will leave a lasting legacy for the next generation.
Nicole Turner of Team Ireland reacts during the Women's 50m Freestyle - S6 on day one of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at . (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)"Nicole has been an extraordinary ambassador for Irish parasport since her international debut in 2015.
“Competing at one Paralympic Games is a massive achievement, but to compete at three, in addition to multiple World and European Championships, speaks to her longevity and commitment as a high-performance athlete.
“Her contribution to Irish sport and her exceptional performances will leave a lasting legacy. While we will miss seeing her compete, we congratulate her on everything she has accomplished throughout her career and wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.”
2015 IPC Swimming World Championships
Women’s 400 m Freestyle S6 Final: 5th
Women’s 100 m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 5th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 6th
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 6th
Women’s 200 m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 8th
Women’s 100 m Freestyle S6 Final: 7th
2016 IPC Swimming European Open Championships
Women’s 100 m Freestyle S6 Final: 5th
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 6th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 3rd
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 5th
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 7th
Women’s 200 m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 7th
Women’s 400 m Freestyle S6 Final: 8th
Women’s 100 m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 7th
2019 World Para Swimming Championships
Women’s 200 m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 7th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 3rd (Bronze)
Women’s 100 m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 7th
European Para Swimming Championships
Women’s 50m Butterfly S6 Final: 1st (Gold)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 1st (Gold)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S6 Final: 2nd (Silver)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 2nd (Silver)
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 8th
Women’s 100 m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 7th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 2nd (Silver)
2022 World Para Swimming Championships
Women’s 200 m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 3rd (Bronze)
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 5th
Women’s 100 m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 4th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 3rd (Bronze)
2023 World Para Swimming Championships
Women’s 50m Butterfly S6 Final: 4th
Women’s 50m Freestyle S6 Final: 7th
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 5th
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 5th
Women’s 100m Backstroke S6 Final: 6th
2024 European Para Swimming Championships
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM6 Final: 3rd (Bronze)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S6 Final: 1st (Gold, shared with Nora Meister)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB6 Final: 3rd (Bronze)
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