Irish Paralympics medallist Nicole Turner calls time on her career
Only 22, Nicole Turner has competed in the last three Paralympic Games and won silver in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021
Paralympic silver medallist Nicole Turner has announced her retirement.
Turner made her Paralympic debut at 14 in Rio in 2016 and has competed in three Games, the highlight being her podium finish in Tokyo in 2021 in the S6 50m Butterfly final when she finished second to new world record holder Yuyan Jiang of China.
The Laois woman, who has competed mainly in the S6 category, was seven years old when she was diagnosed with hypochondroplasia, which is a type of dwarfism.
READ MORE:Nicole Turner hopes to turn World Championships pain into Paralympic medal gain in Paris
READ MORE:Nicole Turner wins silver in 50m Butterfly in Tokyo in stunning performance
Turner's career began with local club Portarlington Piranhas before moving to Laois Marlins in Portlaoise. By the time she was 12, she was on the Ireland senior team and, after winning two silvers and a bronze medal at the European Championships before going to Rio, where she was selected to be the flagbearer at the end of the Games.
Turner began training with Ireland’s top swimmers at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin from 2017. She remained competitive right up to last year, when she won four medals - including one gold - at the 2023 Para Swimming European Championships.
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 sixth with a time of 35.65 seconds. In the S6 50m Butterfly, Turner participated in the heats but didn't qualify for the final.
Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara paid tribute to Turner, commenting: “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.”
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