FIONA DOYLE HAD a ‘bittersweet’ night at the World Swimming Championships where she finished 11th in the 100m breaststroke but failed to qualify for tomorrow’s final.
Limerick’s Doyle was seventh in the stronger of this evening’s two semi-finals in Barcelona, won by Lithuanian teen Ruta Meilutyte in a world record 1:04.35.
Doyle’s time of 1:07.81 was slower than her personal best 1:07.66 to win silver at the World University Games earlier this month but enough for 11th place overall.
She said: “It wasn’t as good as I was hoping but 11th in the world is great. It’s definitely a learning curve and it’s only up from here. We’re three years out from the Olympics and it’s a pretty nice place to be in.”
She later tweeted: “11th in the World and a silver medal at [the World University Games], who wouldn’t be happy with that!? Tonight was bittersweet but I have surpassed all my goals!”
Doyle, 21, is back in action on Thursday when she goes in the heats of the 200m breaststroke. Meanwhile Meilutyte, 16, will be the strong favourite tomorrow to add a world title to the Olympic gold she won last year.
Standing in her way is a strong field which includes Russia’s Yulia Efimova, Rikke Moller Pedersen of Denmark and American duo Jessica Hardy and Bree Larson.
Tomorrow Irish eyes will turn to Barry Murphy when he goes in his main event, the 50m breaststroke. Murphy will be the only Irish swimmer in action as Sycerika McMahon has decided to skip the 200m freestyle to concentrate on the 100m, which begins on Thursday.
