A team of
fourteen Irish swimmers are relishing the opportunity to compete at a home LEN
European U23 Swimming Championships at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic
Centre, taking place from August 11th – 13th.
The last
time Swim Ireland hosted a European competition was the LEN European Short
Course Swimming Championships in 2003, the same year the Sport Ireland National
Aquatic Centre opened.
Many of
the swimmers on the team were not even born on that occasion when Sydney 2000
and Beijing 2008 Olympian Andrew Bree won a silver medal in the 200m Breaststroke.
Bree will indeed be in attendance this weekend, in the role of poolside
commentator.
Heading
up Team Ireland this weekend will be recent Paris 2024 qualifiers Daniel
Wiffen, Mona McSharry, and Ellen Walshe. Wiffen and McSharry were both World
Championships finalists just two weeks ago, with Wiffen setting a new European
Record in the 800m Freestyle. All three will compete in their signature events
across the three days of competition.
The team
also includes World Championships teamers, 200m Freestyle Irish Record holder
Victoria Catterson and 16-year-old John Shortt, who recently set a new Irish
standard in the 200m Backstroke.
The
opening day of racing will see fourteen individual swims from Irish swimmers
including McSharry (50m Breaststroke), Walshe (100m Butterfly, 200m Individual
Medley) and Wiffen (1500m Freestyle) as well as Shortt in the 200m Backstroke
and Catterson in the 200m Freestyle. Jack Cassin and Evan Bailey will compete
in the 100m Butterfly; Maria Godden swims the 50m Backstroke and Eoin Corby and
Liam O’Connor the 50m Breaststroke.
Molly
Mayne joins McSharry in the 50m Breaststroke, Grace Hodgins competes in the
800m Freestyle, while an Ireland team are entered in the Mixed 400m Medley
Relay.
Speaking
ahead of the event Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd said
‘"The Irish team have assembled in Dublin and are keen and excited to
perform in front of a home crowd. With five athletes returning from a highly
successful World Championships to join this team, there is a blend of
experience and exciting potential within our ranks and when you look at the
pre-meet rankings, you'd really hope that Irish athletes can wow friends,
family, and the swimming community over the three days of racing at the NAC.
It's been 20 years since we last had international swimming of this calibre in
Ireland - and so I'd urge supporters to scoop up those last few available tickets
and lend us your voices this weekend!"
Schedule
Day 1
F 50m
Breaststroke Mona McSharry, Molly Mayne
M 200m
Backstroke John Shortt
W 100m
Butterfly Ellen Walshe
F 50m
Backstroke Maria Godden
M 50m
Breaststroke Eoin Corby, Liam O’Connor
F 200m
Freestyle Victoria Catterson
M 100m
Butterfly Jack Cassin, Evan Bailey
F 200m IM Ellen Walshe
Mix 400m
Medley Relay Ireland
F 800
Free * Grace Hodgins
M 1500
Free * Daniel Wiffen
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