Nicole Turner ready for her Paralympic debut in Rio

Ireland’s new swimming hope Nicole Turner is confident she can win her first Paralympic medal at Rio 2016 after a good performance at last May’s IPC Swimming European Open Championships in Funchal, Portugal.

The 14-year old, who will be Team Ireland’s youngest member in Rio, won two silvers and a bronze medal at the Euros.

In Brazil she is hoping to compete in the 50m freestyle S6, 50m butterfly S6, 100m breaststroke SB6, 100m freestyle S6, 200m individual medley SM6 and 400m freestyle S6.

“It is going to be very exciting because it will be my first Paralympic Games,” she said. “It will be great to represent my country at the Paralympic Games. Swimming at the Aquatic Stadium will also be amazing and of course I am also excited to be part of the Irish team.”

Turner will face stiff competition from Great Britain’s reigning two-time Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, but remains positive with her eyes on the prize and is aiming high.

“I would like to maintain or better my personal best times. I would like to final in all six events I take part in and hopefully, win a medal,” she said.

“I would love to win a medal of any colour. I feel more confident for my 50m butterfly and 100m breaststroke,” she said.

Turner’s self-assurance is not unfounded. Her short career has shown that she is on the rise and a candidate for the podium at Rio 2016.

At the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, Turner burst onto the swimming scene by reaching the finals in every event.

A year later, she outperformed herself when she claimed silver in both the 200m individual medley SM6 and the 100m breaststroke SB6 and a bronze in the 50m butterfly S6 at Funchal 2016.

“Funchal has given me the confidence to go and compete at this level in Rio. I am so looking forward to it,” she said.

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs)

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.

Visa International is the exclusive payment card and the official payment system for the Paralympic Games.