The only remarkable aspect of Ireland's participation in the final day of the World Swimming Championships in Perth yesterday was the fact that brothers Adrian and Hugh O'Connor were drawn alongside each other, in lanes seven and eight, in heat four of the 200 metres backstroke.
The outcome was that both Irishmen swam well outside their best times to finish fifth and sixth in the heat. Adrian, with a poor time of two minutes 08.1 seconds, was placed 24th overall in the event, with Hugh (2:08.2) in 26th position out of an entry of 44.
Ger Doyle, the national coach, could not conceal his disappointment and said that the brothers were visibly annoyed by the draw. "They are swimming every day of the week together in New Ross and then to be lined up alongside each other on the other side of the world at this level was off putting. Both of them had promised much better in preparations".
Nick O'Hare was also disappointingly outside his best time for the 50 metres freestyle, finishing sixth in his heat and 38th overall in an entry of 74. "Nick had been sprinting well up to the time of the race and had put a lot into preparing, but it just didn't happen for him on the day," said Doyle. O'Hare was six tenths of a second outside his best with 23.9 seconds.
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