Northsider Ellen wins gold to claim Ireland’s first medal of Paralympic Games

Clontarf swimmer Ellen Keane has won Ireland’s first medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo with a stunning victory in the SB8 100m breaststroke. 

She put in an amazing performance to claim gold with a personal best ever time of 1.19.93.

The 26-year-old was just behind her big rival Sarah Pascoe of New Zealand at the half way stage but managed to charge past her with 20 metres to go.

A delighted Ellen spoke with RTE Sport following her epic victory.

“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet,” she said.

“When I dove in my goggles filled up with water but I think that was maybe a good thing because I couldn’t see where the girls were around me.

“Just on the turn I saw Sophie a little bit but I just had a gameplan in mind and I stuck to that.”