A world champion following her exploits in Manchester last summer, Limerick swimmer Roisín Ní Ríain isn't getting fixated with medals as the Paris Paralympic Games loom into view in the autumn.
Ní Ríain was only 16 when she made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo, making a glut of finals in the S-13 class in the backstroke, breaststroke, medley and butterfly.
While a medal eluded her on that occasion, Ní Ríain has continued to progress since then, first earning a place on the podium at world level in Madiera in 2022, taking the bronze in the 100m backstroke and the 100m butterfly.
Last August in Manchester witnessed further evolution as Ní Riain earned a silver in the butterfly before clambering onto the top of the podium in the backstroke, swimming a personal best time of 1:06.62.
"It's been a good couple of years since Tokyo," Ní Riain told RTÉ Sport's John Kenny, at an event organised by Team Visa.
"The worlds in 2022 was my first major international medal on the world stage.
"And this summer, the worlds in Manchester were absolutely amazing and I had some good performances there too. It's a nice way to build into this year.
"I was only 16 (in Tokyo). It was definitely quite the experience back then. My attitude was just trying to take it all in and learn as much as I can.
"It was definitely a strange one with all the Covid measures in place. But nonetheless, it was one of the best experiences ever for me. Just seeing the village, athletes from all different sports from all different countries in the world, that I look up to - it was an unreal experience."
Technically, the gold medal in Manchester didn't secure her place in this year's Paralympics, as Ní Riain explains.
"The way it works is I was able to earn a female slot for the Games this summer. So, this year, I have to go and try and hit the MQS - the minimum qualifying standard - so it's about getting those times and hopefully that'll secure my place for Paris."
Ní Ríain competes in the S-13 class which consists of athletes with visual impairments.
"The way Paralympic swimming works is there's S-1-10 for physical disability. There's S-11 to 13 for visual impairments and S-14 for intellectual impairments.
"I'm in the S-13 classification so I'm the least of the visually impaired classifications."
Ireland has an illustrious modern history in Para swimming, with Ellen Keane taking the gold in the 100m breaststroke in Tokyo (S-8 class), while Portarlington's Nicole Turner claimed silver in the 50m butterfly (S-6 class).
"They were much more experienced than I was in Tokyo," says Ní Ríain. "It was great to have those girls with those experiences to help and guide me in certain situations.
"From then to now, it's nice to be able to call them my friends.
"We're all supportive of one another every time we go out and race and it's nice to have that support team behind us."
As for joining Keane and Turner as a Paralympic medal holder, Ní Ríain isn't inclined to become laser focused on a podium finish, instead concentrating on bettering her best times, with the rest looking after itself.
"Tokyo was a great start, to make all those finals. So hopefully, I can build on that. I always like to think all I can do is stand up behind the block and be well prepared and give it my best. To be able to finish and be happy.
"But it would be nice to see a couple of better places (finishes) than in Tokyo.
"That is one of my goals. It would be nice to hopefully get a podium. But I would be happy as long as I do my best. PBs are always the aim and we'll see where those PBs take me. That's the attitude I have."
