Swimming:Sycerika McMahon came home fifth in the final of the 100 metres breaststroke at the European Championships in Hungary this evening, the 17-year-old marginally outside her best in a time of 1:08.72.
McMahon, who booked her place at the London Olympics with a new Irish record of 1:08.37 in the heats yesterday, made a sluggish start in today’s final but was within touching distance of the leading quartet at the midway point.
The Portaferry teenager, who skipped the heats of the individual medley earlier in the day in order to concentrate on this evening’s final, kept up her pursuit after the turn but was unable to bridge the gap as Germany’s powered home to take gold in 1:07.33.
Jennie Johansson, the fastest qualifier coming into the final, took silver just ahead of Marina Urzainqui Garcia.