Clare
Cryan stole the show on Friday night at the European Aquatics Championships in
Belgrade with a phenomenal display on the 3m Springboard to win Ireland’s
first-ever diving medal at a senior European Championships.
The
bronze medal is only the third international diving medal across all senior
events and the 30-year-old won it in style with a score of 240.55, her best
score coming from a back 2 ½ somersaults for 58.80 points.
Speaking
after the final, Cryan said: “Honestly, I am lost for words, I didn’t know I
was in contention for the medals. Throughout the competition I just kept my
head down, I don’t really like to look at the scores or table going through, so
I had no idea going into the last dive. It wasn’t my best last dive; it was
enough to get the bronze which I’m so happy about.”
Cryan
added: “It’s all just so much right now! I’ve been diving for 21 years, I
medalled at the 2018 Grand Prix, that was Ireland’s first international diving
medal, to have such a long time without standing on the podium and hitting
personal bests, it is just amazing.”
Speaking
on the support, she added: “The support is absolutely amazing, both my family
and Ciara’s (McGing) family have followed us around the world, we are so lucky.
It makes all the difference to know that the ones who helped me in the early
days, giving me the lifts to the pool, looking after me when I was upset, that
they could be here today was amazing.”
Back at
the Sports Centre Milan Gale Muskatirovic Conor Ferguson returned to the pool
posting his second fastest time ever (24.87) in the 50m Backstroke Final.
Ferguson placed sixth following a number of fine performances dropping time in
each round.
The
Loughborough swimmer spoke after his race “It’s a really good time, it’s faster
than expected and I’ve progressed through the rounds which is really good for
me, it’s one thing I wanted to do. Competing with these guys is always a goal
for me, it was stacked today. Heading into tomorrow (100m Backstroke) I’m not
really putting pressure on performance, I’m looking forward to it.”
Ellie
McCartney was the first Irish swimmer in the pool on Friday evening competing
in the 200m Breaststroke Final, her first in the senior ranks. McCartney headed
into the swim brimming with confidence following a massive personal best in the
Semi-Final of 2:26.76. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer finished eighth
in 2:28.68.
A short
time later, the 19-year-old was back on the blocks to compete in the 200m
Individual Medley Semi-Final, the Enniskillen native clocked 2:14.37 to qualify
for another Final in eighth place. Belgrade has been a happy hunting ground for
McCartney, in 2023 she won a European junior bronze in the same event and
venue, tonight she will look forward to her second European senior final in
consecutive days.
Speaking
in the mixed zone, McCartney said: “Coming into this gala I really wanted to
make a semi-final in the 200 breast, to make the final has made my day. I
really swam out of my skin last night, so I’ve got my head held high. This is
what we train for, we come to these big competitions to drop time like that and
I’m happy to be able to do it on the occasion, it’s a privilege to make it to
the final.”
She
added: “I was excited I wanted to get in and race, I think I was the youngest
in the final, I think that’s promising coming out of Juniors, it’s exciting.”
With a
European gold in her back pocket from last night, Danielle Hill took centre
stage once again this evening. It was business as usual for Hill, coming
through the 100m Backstroke as second fastest qualifier in a time of 1:00.52.
Hill, who currently holds the Irish Senior Record in this event at 59.11 will
have another shot at medals in her last race before the Olympic Games on
Saturday.
Hill
said: “I’m happy, it’s been a really long day, I said that I got some sleep
last night but unfortunately, I didn’t get much sleep in between session.
Listen, it’s working my way through the rounds, there was a few new processes
in the warm-up, so it’s just about ironing stuff out. I’m looking forward to
tomorrow.”
Joining
Hill tomorrow night will be Lottie Cullen, who continued to shine in Belgrade
with a stunning performance in her 100m Backstroke Semi-Final. Cullen moved
through the rounds yet again, this time in 1:01.19, to book her place in her
first-ever international final.
Speaking
after tonight’s race, Cullen said: “I feel really good, it was only .2 off my
best time which I am really happy with. I was a bit nervous going in tonight
because I wanted to have a good swim but I’m happy to come out and be in the
final tomorrow night. It’s really exciting, I am just going to have fun with
it, not put too much pressure on and enjoy the moment.”
Jack
Cassin returned the pool for the 200 Butterfly Semi-Finals; Cassin clocked his
second personal best of the day in 1:58.89 to close out his European campaign
in 13th.
Cassin
said: “It’s my first-time sub 1:59, so I couldn’t be happier. It’s been a long
competition and off the back of Trials, I feel so fortunate to gain the
experience to race against some of the best in the world and to come 13th.”
He added:
“I’m just so happy, I think everyone wants to put their best foot forward,
everyone is in such a good mood, and I think especially me, I couldn’t do it
without the support system around me. It’s been amazing, I didn’t really expect
that I would make a semi-final so I’m really happy with that and to see
Danielle win in the 50 back was such a spectacular thing to watch.”
The
penultimate morning of racing will see Shane Ryan, Oisin Tebite and Calum Bain
race in the 50m Freestyle, Conor Ferguson in the 100m Backstroke, while Niamh
Coyne will feature in the 50m Breaststroke. Saturday evening’s session will see
final appearances for Danielle Hill and Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke), Ellie
McCartney (200m Individual Medley) and Nathan Wiffen (800m Freestyle).
Fannon
Equals Irish Freestyle Record in Rome
Tom
Fannon had the standout performance on the opening night of Finals at the Sette
Colli International Meet in Rome on Friday evening.
Fannon,
who set a new Irish Record to qualify for the Paris Games in the 50m Freestyle
at the Irish Open and Olympic Trials in May, equalled that time to win the B
Final in 21.94.
The
National Centre Dublin swimmer spoke after the race ‘It’s mixed emotions, I’m
happy obviously with a 21 point in season, but also, would have liked to have
gone faster, even 0.01 under the record would have been nice, but to go 21.9 in
season, just off the plane, two key sets, two lifts this week, I’ll take it’
Fannon
will take confidence from the swim as he continues his preparations towards
Paris ‘Last season I’d be going 23 in hard training, now it’s 21.9, looking
good for the Games, it’s just about getting that first swim, there was a few
mistakes this morning, so at the Games it’s about getting that first swim good,
less mistakes, and then if I can do that in the morning, or hopefully faster,
there’s a semi-final and final, hopefully progress through the rounds. I’m
happy’
Daniel
Wiffen, Darragh Greene and Mx McCusker all finished eighth in their A Finals.
Wiffen clocked 3:51.64 in the 400m Freestyle, Greene 1:00.73 in the 100m
Breaststroke and McCusker 52.62 in the 100m Butterfly. Both Greene and McCusker
competed at the European Aquatics Championships earlier this week.
Day two
heats in Rome will see Ellen Walshe do a double of the 100m Butterfly and 400m
Individual Medley. Erin Riordan, Victoria Catterson and Fannon compete in the
100m Freestyle and Greene returns for the 50m Breaststroke. Daniel Wiffen will
swim in the fastest heat of the 800m Freestyle which will take place in the
evening session.
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