Ellen Keane has comfortably qualified for tonight's SB8 100m breaststroke Paralympic final after winning her heat in a time of one minute 23.64 seconds.
The 21-year-old, who is competing in her third Paralympic Games, led Poland's Paulina Wozniak narrowly at the turn before pulling away over the final 50m to win by a second and a half.
The Dubliner was the second-fastest qualifier overall and looks set to battle Canadian Katrina Roxon, who won the second heat in 1:21.27, for the gold medal in the final at 9.36pm.
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Keane is a three-time world bronze medallist but will be hoping to claim her first Paralympic medal in Rio and is feeling confident after this morning's display.
"I feel good, I knew we only had to drop off one or two people but I kind of wanted to go out and swim my own race.
"With breaststroke, if I rush it and if I panic, I won’t have a good race. This morning I was just concentrating on keeping it long, keeping it focus and relaxed.
"I swam a fast time and won my heat so I’m super happy to have won a heat at the Paralympic Games."
Keane did admit to some serious nerves before the race but they had no impact on her performance and she's confident that she can cope with them again in tonight's final.
"It’s the Paralympic Games, it only happens every four years and it’s the biggest competition in my life so of course I’m going to be nervous.
"Hopefully tonight I’ll be able to use those nerves to my advantage."
