Deaten Registe's first taste of Paralympic action finished with a fine sixth-place finish in the men's SB14 100m breaststroke final.
The Tyrone 20-year-old had just sneaked into the final, edging Belgium's Aymeric Parmentier to the final qualifying spot, but a new PB of 1:07.82 saw him make up a few places at La Defense Arena.
The race was won by Canada’s Nicholas Bennett in a time of 1:03.98 with Australia’s Jake Michel, fastest in the heats, having to make do with silver.
Registe got off to a good start and though towards the end of the pack in the first 50 metres, it was a bunched group.
Deaten Registe swims a PB as he finishes sixth in the final of the SB14 100m breaststroke #Paris2024 #Paralympics2024
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A first 50m time of 31.60 saw him turn in seventh but having indicated after his heat that he felt he had more to give coming home, he lived up to that by coming in ahead of Artem Pavlenko and Vasyl Krainyk, .08 of a second faster than the lifetime best he set in January.
Earlier, Registe had finished fourth in heat two with a time of 1:08.49.
"It felt better than this morning," he told RTÉ Sport. "I wanted to go quicker and come back strong. I'm happy with the time and it's a personal best.
"It’s really good to get the experience of what the Games are like.
"It’s my first one, I did good this morning and better tonight, I’m happy with myself.
"I aim to try get lower [times] as times goes on, so hopefully when we come to LA I can do better."
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