December 16, 2021

Irish Olympian Ellen Walshe claimed a magnificent silver medal in the 400m Individual Medley at the 15th FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi – Ireland’s second-ever medal at a World Championships and the first ever in an Olympic event.

Taking place at the Etihad Arena, the Championships are world swimming’s finale of 2021 and the culmination of the short course (25m pool) season.

The Dublin swimmer, based at the University of Tennessee, beat a 27-year-old Irish Senior Record to qualify for the Final before knocking off another four seconds from that time to claim her first international senior medal in an impressive 4:26.52.

Reflecting immediately after the race, Ellen Walshe said: “It doesn’t feel real yet. I knew it was going to be a fast field. It’s just really nice to walk out for my family, friends and country. It feels great to get on the podium, I haven’t been there in quite a while.

“Tessa [Cieplucha] who won it is a team mate of mine in University of Tennessee, so it’s really nice that I get to stand on the podium with her later today.”

Earlier Olympic finalist Mona McSharry became Ireland’s second finalist at these Championships when breaking her own Irish Senior Record in the 50m Breaststroke Semi-Finals – the fourth Irish Senior Record claimed in what is only Day 1 of the Championships.

McSharry swam 29.65 and will go into the Final on Friday ranked third. She has not won a World senior medal before, but did win a Bronze Medal at the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships in 2019

Friday, December 17 – Heats – Starts 05:30

Jack McMillan & Jordan Sloan - 200m Freestyle

Danielle Hill - 100m Freestyle

Brendan Hyland - 100m Butterfly

Ellen Walshe - 200m Butterfly

Finals

14:42 - Mona McSharry – 50m Breaststroke

Find the full Irish schedule at Swim Ireland FINA World SC Swimming Championships 2021

Swim Ireland Team

2021 FINA World Championships (25m)

Abu Dhabi, UAE | December 16-21

Calum Bain - University of Stirling, Scotland - Coach: Bradley Hay