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Swimmer picks up first Gold for Irish
Bethany Firth with her gold medal following victory in the Women’s 100m Backstroke - S14 at the Aquatics Centre, London
The 16-year-old, who trains at Ards Swim Club overcame a shoulder injury obtained earlier in the year to secure the top time, with Australian Taylor Corry securing silver and Marlou van der Lulk of the Netherlands the Bronze.
Men’s 100m Backstroke finishing in a respectable 1.06.
She will be back in the Aquatics Centre tomorrow to compete in the 200m freestyle, with hopes that her form continues.
The 17-year-old, from Ballykelly, had a finishing time of 27.78 which was not enough to secure her a place in tonight’s final.
The man known as Ireland’s Usain Bolt, Eglinton sprinter Jason Smyth, broke a world record in the 100m heat at the Olympic stadium, with a time of 10.54.
However, the young runner will get another chance at an Olympic medal on Tuesday when she competes to qualify for a place in the final of the Women’s 100m at 11.39am.
The Co Derry athlete now looks certain for a medal place when he competes in the final today.
Meanwhile, three more Northern Ireland athletes will be in action at the Paralympics today.
Speaking after his record breaking race, Smyth said he was loving the fast Olympic track and felt confident about the final.
There was also disappointment yesterday for Co Derry athlete Sally Brown who failed to qualify for the final of the Women’s 200m.
Armagh-based equestrian Eilish Byrne (48) will compete in the Individual Championship Test at 9am at Greenwich Park while 47-year-old Portaferry “If I can get a good start and cyclist James Brown will get away, then I can relax. compete in the Men’s Individual Time Trial event at “You have to be con- the Velodrome at 9.30am. fident,” he said. Meanwhile, Laurence McGivern (19), from Rostrevor, Co Down failed to make the medal podium in the