ELLEN KEANE has won Ireland's first gold medal of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The talented swimmer has brought gold glory to Ireland after finishing first in the SB8 100m breaststroke, beating her own personal best with a finishing time of 1:19.93.
The 26-year-old, from Clontarf in Dublin, won bronze in the 2016 Paralympics and has been training tirelessly since, with an exceptional result.
Keane beat out her closest rival, New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe, who finished just over half a second later.
Ellen Keane of Ireland looks at her gold medal after winning the Women's SB8 100 metre breaststroke final at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre on day two during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Congratulations have been pouring in for the Paralympic champion, including from Kellie Harrington, who won gold for Ireland in the recent 2020 Olympics.
Gettttt in there Ellen Keane wins a Gold in 100m Breaststroke #ParaSwimming #ParaOlympics https://t.co/czwg4XC53D
— Kellie Harrington (@Kelly64kg) August 26, 2021
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin also congratulated the newest Irish champion, writing on twitter: "Congratulations Ellen Keane on a brilliant gold in the breaststroke at the #Paralympics with a new personal best."
Swim Ireland called Keane "sensational", congratulating her for obliderating her own record by a full two seconds..
"Ellen Keane stepped up and turned that Rio 2016 Bronze into Gold with a phenomenal SB8 100m Breaststroke Finals swim of 1:19.93 - her first time under 1:21.00!" they wrote.
🔥 Ellen Keane - Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Gold Medallist
Ellen Keane stepped up and turned that Rio 2016 Bronze into Gold with a phenomenal SB8 100m Breaststroke Finals swim of 1:19.93 - her first time under 1:21.00 🤯
Just sensational! #TheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/FkRGW8nUiI— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) August 26, 2021
In an interview following her spectacular win, Keane revealed her chance to win did not get off to a good start as her goggles filled with water as soon as she dived into the pool, but said "that was maybe a good thing because I couldn't see where the girls were around me".
