Ellen Walshe claimed gold in Paris after Mona McSharry opened Ireland’s account with silver at the Olympic Aquatic Centre, but it wasn’t to be for Daniel Wiffen at the end of day three of the European Aquatic Championships.
Walshe (24) produced a superb performance in the 400m individual medley, setting a new Irish record of 4:34.42 and securing her first medal at a major long-course international championships.
Walshe executed her race with precision, moving into third after the backstroke before taking second and then hunting down long-time leader Amalie Smith over the final 100 metres.
“I don’t think it’s fully hit yet but I was delighted to see my hand touch the wall first, but I couldn’t even turn around, I just so dead,” she said.
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“I tried to stick with what I knew, eventually I hope to go out a little faster, but on the backstroke my legs were really hurting and I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. On the freestyle, sure, it’s anybody’s game.
“It’s huge to take the gold. I’m looking forward to standing on the podium tonight.”
There was another Irish medal earlier in the session as Sligo’s McSharry added to her Olympic bronze from two years ago by taking silver in the 100m breaststroke.
The 25-year-old touched in an Irish record 1:05.41, with Britain’s Angharad Evans winning in 1:04.87 after lowering the championship record for the third time in two days.
“It’s not yet set in, I can’t quite believe it,” McSharry said. “It might take me to get up on the podium to really be like, ‘Okay, this happened’.”
McSharry was delighted with the execution of her race. “It has been a long time since I hit that speed so to be able to punch faster, hopefully the 1:04 mark is not too far away.”
However, Wiffen, the reigning Olympic champion, missed out on a medal in the 800m freestyle, finishing fourth in 7:43.30.
The 25-year-old, who is still on the recovery trail after a tough year with appendicitis and then a short-lived move to California, was hopeful of making the podium.
But Germany’s Johannes Liebmann and Sven Schwarz took first and second, with Hungary’s Zalan Zarkany claiming bronze, as the Magheralin man failed to mount a serious challenge.
“I’m absolutely really happy with that,” said Wiffen. “I was able to get faster again, which is really good for me. This season has obviously not been my best but another season’s best, I’m really happy.
“I came here this week not even thinking I’d get into the final of the 800, the 1,500 has been my focus, so to come fourth and go five seconds faster than the Commies [Commonwealth Games] a week ago, over the moon, to be honest. I’m so happy to be back in Ireland, I’ve dropped 15 seconds in 13 weeks, so pretty happy.”
John Shortt finished seventh in the 200m backstroke final in 1:55.86, having set an Irish senior record in Tuesday’s semi-final.
“I absolutely went for it, but it wasn’t my night,” said the 19-year-old world junior champion.
“It won’t take away from what has been the best season of my life by a million miles. It’s all part of the learning and it’s still under the time I need to go for LA, so there’s loads of positives. Seventh in Europe is not too bad either.”
Jack Kelly, meanwhile, qualified fifth fastest for the 200m breaststroke final after breaking the Irish record with 2:09.23 in his semi-final. Eoin Corby finished sixth in the same semi-final and 11th overall.
“I feel great,” said Kelly. “I was in a really fun semi-final. I couldn’t really ask for a better swim.”
Danielle Hill also reached the women’s 50m backstroke final, qualifying eighth after finishing fifth in her semi-final in 27.85.
The Larne swimmer, returning from injury, was delighted to make another European final. “Listen, I am so happy,” Hill said. “To be able to sneak in in eighth place, on the right side of it, means a lot.”
Four Irish swimmers will compete in finals on Wednesday evening in Paris
