Portarlington Paralympic swimmer Nicole Turner has announced her retirement, bringing an extraordinary career in competitive swimming to a close.
A Paralympic silver medalist and multiple-time international medallist, Nicole leaves the sport as one of Ireland’s most celebrated athletes.
Nicole initially took up swimming to follow in the footsteps of her two older brothers, but her exceptional talent quickly became evident.
Encouraged by her family and coaches, who recognized her potential, she pursued the sport more seriously.
Her career began with Portarlington Piranhas before moving to Laois Marlins in Portlaoise. She then trained with Ireland’s top swimmers at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin starting in 2017.
In 2015, she made her senior international debut at the British Internationals, winning a silver medal in the youth category.
She followed this with six finals and personal bests at that year’s World Championships in Glasgow.
She represented Ireland at the 2016 IPC Swimming European Open Championships, where she swam in six finals, bringing home silver in both the 200m Individual Medley and the 100m Breaststroke, as well as a bronze in the 50m Butterfly. She also set nine new PB times.
At just 14 years old, Nicole made her Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She competed in five events, qualifying for the final in each one, and set personal bests in six out of her ten races.
Her best finish was fifth in the 50m Butterfly. Nicole had the honour of serving as the flagbearer for Team Ireland during the Rio Paralympics’ closing ceremony.
Nicole Turner shone at the 2018 European Championships in Dublin, winning silver in the 50m Butterfly. In 2019, she won bronze in the 50m Butterfly at the World Championships in London.
Following her brilliant performances that year, she was nominated for both the RTÉ Sport Awards 2019 Sportsperson of the Year and the Young Sportsperson of the Year award.
At the 2021 European Championships in Madeira, she won medals in all four of her events: silver in the 50m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke, and bronze in the 50m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley.
Nicole competed in her second Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2021, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the challenges posed by the global situation, she delivered stellar performances, culminating in the crowning moment of her career – winning a silver medal in the S6 50m Butterfly final with a time of 36.30 seconds.
Competing against world-class athletes, including her Chinese rival Yuyan Jiang, who set a world record in their heat, Turner demonstrated exceptional skill and determination to claim her spot on the podium.
Her silver medal cemented her status as one of the top Paralympic swimmers in the world.
Nicole was a key member of the Irish team at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester. At the 2024 Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira, she won four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, marking her third and final appearance, Nicole competed in two events. She advanced to the final of the S6 50m Freestyle, finishing 6th with a time of 35.65 seconds.
In the S6 50m Butterfly, Turner participated in the heats but did not advance to the final. While she did not secure a podium finish, her performances reflected her continued dedication to her sport and her status as one of the top para-swimmers on the global stage.
Speaking about Turner’s retirement announcement, Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara said: “Nicole has been an extraordinary ambassador for Irish para-sport 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.”
NICOLE’S ACHIEVEMENTS
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)
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Women’s 50 m Freestyle S6 Final: 6th
Women’s 50 m Butterfly S6 Final: 6th
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