THE LONG READ: Young Offaly Paralympian represented Ireland at three Olympic Games

A YOUNG athlete who represented Ireland at three different Olympics Games has been honoured.

Nicole Turner, from Garryhinch, outside Portarlington, was presented with the 2024 Offaly Person of the Year award at a function in Tullamore earlier this month.

Her achievements were detailed int he citation read by organising committee member, Peter Carter, at the awards night.

It reads as follows:

"It gives me great pleasure to present to you this evening the 2024 Offaly Person of the Year award recipient.

The award goes to a young woman who has represented her country in international competitive swimming and who last year announced her retirement, bringing an extraordinary career to a close.
A Paralympic silver medallist and multiple-time international medallist, the 2024 Offaly Person of the Year leaves the sport as one of Ireland's most celebrated athletes.
From Garryhinch, she 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.

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Our award winner grew up just outside Portarlington, with parents Bernie and Jason, and brothers Daniel and Ciaran.

The 22-year-old was educated locally at Cloneyhurke National School and Colaiste Iosagain in Portarlington.
Taking up swimming at the tender age of five she got her first taste of success when she won eight medals in 2009, aged just seven, at the World Games in Belfast.

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.

Our Offaly Person of the Year 2024 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, she made her Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Offaly Person of the Year 2024 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.

She had the honour of serving as the flagbearer for Team Ireland during the Rio Paralympics' closing ceremony.
She 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, the 2024 Offaly Person of the Year was nominated for both the RTÉ Sport Awards 2019 Sportsperson of the Year and the Young Sportsperson of the Year award.

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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.
The 2024 Offaly Person of the Year 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, she 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.
The 2024 Offaly Person of the Year 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, she competed in two events. She advanced to the final of the S6 50m Freestyle, finishing 6th with a time of 35.65 seconds and she also finished 6th in the S6 50m Butterfly final.

While the award recipient 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 her retirement announcement, Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara said, "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.”

Tonight we salute the 36th recipient of the Offaly Person of the Year award.

Ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding for the 2024 Offaly Person of the Year, Nicole Turner."