IRELAND’S JOHN SHORTT has won a gold medal in the final of the Men’s 200m Backstroke at the European Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships in Lublin, Poland.
The Galway native triumphed in a time of 1:47.89 – a new World Junior, European Junior and Championship record.
Shortt, who for the third time in two days broke his Irish Senior and Junior record, also eclipsed Russian Kliment Kolesnikov’s 2017 standard of 1:48.02.
France’s Mewen Tomac (1:48.62) — who Shortt overtook at the 150-metre mark — won silver while Jan Čejka of the Czech Republic (1:49.43) claimed bronze.
The 18-year-old had secured the centre lane and top seed with an impressive performance in last night’s semi-final
“I’m just really proud, I’d be a massive liar if I said I didn’t think I had that in me,” Shortt said after winning his first senior gold medal.
“I honestly didn’t really think I was gonna lose that. I just felt something last night — I just felt unbeatable.
“Now it’s just pride washing over me, and I just honestly can’t believe it.”
On his record-breaking time, the teenager added: “Tonight wasn’t about the time. Tonight was about winning. That’s what these championship finals are for. It doesn’t matter if you go a second slower or two seconds or 10 seconds; it’s all about getting your hand on the wall first, and that was the plan for tonight. I wasn’t thinking about time, but the 1:47 that popped up there is outrageous. So I’m really excited about that.
“I’ve won medals in the past before, but at junior level and now I’m with the big boys, and I swim with my heart on my sleeve, I’ve always been like that.
“I’m a passionate person, I’m so passionate for this flag that’s wrapped around me.
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“I wear this flag, and I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that’s just the way it is, and I love representing this country. It doesn’t represent just myself, it’s representing my family and my friends and my school, my college, it’s everybody, and just to be now winning the senior international and getting to sing the national anthem up there at a senior stage, it’s massive, and I’m just super proud.”
Ireland’s John Shortt celebrates winning a gold medal. Andrea Masini / INPHO
Andrea Masini / INPHO / INPHO
Elsewhere, Ellie McCartney finished eighth in the final of the Women’s 100m Breaststroke.
The 20-year-old Enniskillen native posted a time of 1:05.25.
Eneli Jefimova of Estonia took gold with a Championship record time of 1:02.82.
Belgium’s Florine Gaspard (1:03.73) and Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko (1:03.90) secured silver and bronze, respectively.
Speaking afterwards, McCartney said she was “really happy” to make the final.
“I’ve never made it past heats at a senior international in the 100s, so to make the final, it was unexpected, but I’ll take it any day,” she said
Looking ahead to events later in the week — the 200m Individual Medley and the 200m Breaststroke — she added: “I’m really excited for the 200 Breaststroke. I think the guys in our training group they’ve been doing phenomenal, watching John go tear things up.
“I think it gives a lot of us confidence that the training we’re doing is working. Hopefully, it will give me confidence tomorrow.
“[John's success] took my breath away. Working with him, training with him, we’re housemates as well, so it’s just something I’m so happy to see.”
Meanwhile, Evan Bailey finished third in the semi-finals of the 200m Freestyle.
The swimmer from Wexford, New Ross, earned a new Irish record in the process, registering a time of 1:42.01.
That result sees Bailey qualify for the final along with Britain’s Duncan Scott (1:41.56), as well as Lithuanian duo Tomas Lukminas (1:42.00) and Danas Rapšys (1:42.10).
Bailey, who had been ranked 13th overall after the heats, said: “I’m really happy with that. This morning was a good swim, but there were a few things that I picked up on. Me and my coach, John — we worked on that and figured out where those little margins can be fixed.
“And I made some play adjustments there, and it really worked out in the end for me and obviously, watching John before that, I was in my warm-up before the race, I saw him on the screen — there’s no better warm-up than watching your teammate break a World Junior record.
“I just can’t wait to swim against these lads again tomorrow night. It will always be an experience, and getting on this stage is just an incredible feeling.”
Finally, Ellen Walshe came third in the Women’s 100m Individual Medley semi-final.
The Dubliner’s time of 58.19, which was enough to advance in fifth place overall to the final, was an Irish record, which she also broke with a time of 58.80 in this morning’s heats.
Joining Walshe from her race will be the Czech Republic’s Barbora Janíčková (57.97), Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk (58.02), Denmark’s Martine Damborg (58.25) and France’s Béryl Gastaldello (58.26).
“‘I knew I was going to have to put in a big performance, obviously for Shortty (John Shortt), Evan and Ellie, who did fantastic beforehand, so it’s a bit of pressure on tonight,” Walshe said.
“I’m going to have to find some sprinting feet tomorrow because that’s a pretty quick final. I think the IM has moved on as well; it just all becomes a sprint. I think to be back in the 100s is a bit of a surprise for me, but I’ll take my opportunity tomorrow and hopefully enjoy it.”
In the heats tomorrow morning, Shortt (100m Backstroke), McCartney (200m Breaststroke) and Walshe (100m Butterfly) all return to action.
In addition, Jack Cassin and Matthew Hamilton compete in the 100m Butterfly, and Eoin Corby will take part in the 100m Breaststroke.
Meanwhile, 400m Freestyle bronze medallist Daniel Wiffen returns in the evening for the final of the 1500m Freestyle.
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Ireland's John Shortt wins gold medal at European Short Course Championships
Updated at 22.36
IRELAND’S JOHN SHORTT has won a gold medal in the final of the Men’s 200m Backstroke at the European Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships in Lublin, Poland.
The Galway native triumphed in a time of 1:47.89 – a new World Junior, European Junior and Championship record.
Shortt, who for the third time in two days broke his Irish Senior and Junior record, also eclipsed Russian Kliment Kolesnikov’s 2017 standard of 1:48.02.
France’s Mewen Tomac (1:48.62) — who Shortt overtook at the 150-metre mark — won silver while Jan Čejka of the Czech Republic (1:49.43) claimed bronze.
The 18-year-old had secured the centre lane and top seed with an impressive performance in last night’s semi-final
“I’m just really proud, I’d be a massive liar if I said I didn’t think I had that in me,” Shortt said after winning his first senior gold medal.
“I honestly didn’t really think I was gonna lose that. I just felt something last night — I just felt unbeatable.
“Now it’s just pride washing over me, and I just honestly can’t believe it.”
On his record-breaking time, the teenager added: “Tonight wasn’t about the time. Tonight was about winning. That’s what these championship finals are for. It doesn’t matter if you go a second slower or two seconds or 10 seconds; it’s all about getting your hand on the wall first, and that was the plan for tonight. I wasn’t thinking about time, but the 1:47 that popped up there is outrageous. So I’m really excited about that.
“I’ve won medals in the past before, but at junior level and now I’m with the big boys, and I swim with my heart on my sleeve, I’ve always been like that.
“I’m a passionate person, I’m so passionate for this flag that’s wrapped around me.
“I wear this flag, and I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that’s just the way it is, and I love representing this country. It doesn’t represent just myself, it’s representing my family and my friends and my school, my college, it’s everybody, and just to be now winning the senior international and getting to sing the national anthem up there at a senior stage, it’s massive, and I’m just super proud.”
Elsewhere, Ellie McCartney finished eighth in the final of the Women’s 100m Breaststroke.
The 20-year-old Enniskillen native posted a time of 1:05.25.
Eneli Jefimova of Estonia took gold with a Championship record time of 1:02.82.
Belgium’s Florine Gaspard (1:03.73) and Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko (1:03.90) secured silver and bronze, respectively.
Speaking afterwards, McCartney said she was “really happy” to make the final.
“I’ve never made it past heats at a senior international in the 100s, so to make the final, it was unexpected, but I’ll take it any day,” she said
Looking ahead to events later in the week — the 200m Individual Medley and the 200m Breaststroke — she added: “I’m really excited for the 200 Breaststroke. I think the guys in our training group they’ve been doing phenomenal, watching John go tear things up.
“I think it gives a lot of us confidence that the training we’re doing is working. Hopefully, it will give me confidence tomorrow.
“[John's success] took my breath away. Working with him, training with him, we’re housemates as well, so it’s just something I’m so happy to see.”
Meanwhile, Evan Bailey finished third in the semi-finals of the 200m Freestyle.
The swimmer from Wexford, New Ross, earned a new Irish record in the process, registering a time of 1:42.01.
That result sees Bailey qualify for the final along with Britain’s Duncan Scott (1:41.56), as well as Lithuanian duo Tomas Lukminas (1:42.00) and Danas Rapšys (1:42.10).
Bailey, who had been ranked 13th overall after the heats, said: “I’m really happy with that. This morning was a good swim, but there were a few things that I picked up on. Me and my coach, John — we worked on that and figured out where those little margins can be fixed.
“And I made some play adjustments there, and it really worked out in the end for me and obviously, watching John before that, I was in my warm-up before the race, I saw him on the screen — there’s no better warm-up than watching your teammate break a World Junior record.
“I just can’t wait to swim against these lads again tomorrow night. It will always be an experience, and getting on this stage is just an incredible feeling.”
Finally, Ellen Walshe came third in the Women’s 100m Individual Medley semi-final.
The Dubliner’s time of 58.19, which was enough to advance in fifth place overall to the final, was an Irish record, which she also broke with a time of 58.80 in this morning’s heats.
Joining Walshe from her race will be the Czech Republic’s Barbora Janíčková (57.97), Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk (58.02), Denmark’s Martine Damborg (58.25) and France’s Béryl Gastaldello (58.26).
“‘I knew I was going to have to put in a big performance, obviously for Shortty (John Shortt), Evan and Ellie, who did fantastic beforehand, so it’s a bit of pressure on tonight,” Walshe said.
“I’m going to have to find some sprinting feet tomorrow because that’s a pretty quick final. I think the IM has moved on as well; it just all becomes a sprint. I think to be back in the 100s is a bit of a surprise for me, but I’ll take my opportunity tomorrow and hopefully enjoy it.”
In the heats tomorrow morning, Shortt (100m Backstroke), McCartney (200m Breaststroke) and Walshe (100m Butterfly) all return to action.
In addition, Jack Cassin and Matthew Hamilton compete in the 100m Butterfly, and Eoin Corby will take part in the 100m Breaststroke.
Meanwhile, 400m Freestyle bronze medallist Daniel Wiffen returns in the evening for the final of the 1500m Freestyle.
The full list of results is available here.
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ellen walshe Ellie McCartney European Short Course Championships Evan Bailey John Shortt Swimming Take a Bow