MONA MCSHARRY HAS won a gold medal in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke at the 2025 US Open Championships in Austin, Texas.
McSharry clocked 30.48 seconds to finish ahead of Skyler Smith (30.59) and Mackenzie Lung (30.73).
The 100m Breaststroke Olympic bronze medallist was the fastest qualifier from the heats, progressing in 30.80.
McSharry, now undertaking a Masters at the University of Tennessee, is competing Stateside rather than at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Poland.
Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen celebrates winning a gold medal last night. Andrea Masini / INPHOAndrea Masini / INPHO / INPHO
Fresh from his gold medal last night, Daniel Wiffen cruised into the Men’s 800m Freestyle final in Lublin this morning.
The Olympic champion finished second in his heat in 7:34.60, just behind Hungary’s Zalan Sarkany after a fascinating head to head.
“I tried to make it as comfortable as possible,” Wiffen said.
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“I felt really good, surprisingly, after last night. I thought I’d be holding a bit fatigue, but I’m happy. I’m ready for tomorrow night.
“I’m here to do a job, and that’s to win the event that I came here for.”
Evan Bailey also made solid return to action after his bronze medal on Thursday. The Wexford man won his Men’s 100m Freestyle heat in a massive lifetime best of 47.53 seconds, but missed out on progression to the semi-finals in 32nd overall.
Bailey lowered his previous effort by 1.6 seconds from Lane 9, though this was a scintillatingly fast field with 46.91 the 16th and final time to advance.
“I’m happy enough with that, even if I don’t make it back,” Bailey said after he finished.
“I’m happy with a new personal best. To come back and swim that off the back of last night, it was a bit of a sleepless night.”
On last night’s medal he added: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, it’s a bit of a crazy feeling, it feels a bit like a dream and hasn’t really happened – it was probably one of the best moments of my life.”
Irish trio Cormac Ryan (49.09), Matthew Hamilton (49.80) and Adam Bradley (50.02) all shared an earlier heat, with Ryan finishing second.
Ellen Walshe (file photo). Andrea Masini / INPHO
Andrea Masini / INPHO / INPHO
Ellen Walshe won her Women’s 200m Individual Medley heat, touching in 2:09.21 to progress to the semi-finals in sixth overall. Ellie McCartney was listed in the same heat, but did not start amidst a heavy schedule.
Reflecting on her performance, Walshe said: “This morning, I just wanted to get back in the top 16 and embrace my own race. In the middle lanes, it can be hard because there’s so much going on around you, but I just tried to stick to my own plan.”
Rosalie Phelan clocked a lifetime best of 54.16 to finish third in her Women’s 100m Freestyle heat, but won’t progress to the semi-finals in 32nd overall.
Wiffen (1500m Freestyle gold, 400m Freestyle bronze), Bailey (200m Freestyle bronze) and John Shortt (200m Backstroke gold) have all medalled in Lublin this week.
Day 4 Schedule – Friday 5th December
18:06 – Men 100m Backstroke Final – John Shortt
18:12 – Women 200m Breaststroke Final – Ellie McCartney
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McSharry wins gold medal at US Open Championships, Wiffen into another final in Lublin
LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2025
MONA MCSHARRY HAS won a gold medal in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke at the 2025 US Open Championships in Austin, Texas.
McSharry clocked 30.48 seconds to finish ahead of Skyler Smith (30.59) and Mackenzie Lung (30.73).
The 100m Breaststroke Olympic bronze medallist was the fastest qualifier from the heats, progressing in 30.80.
McSharry, now undertaking a Masters at the University of Tennessee, is competing Stateside rather than at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Poland.
Fresh from his gold medal last night, Daniel Wiffen cruised into the Men’s 800m Freestyle final in Lublin this morning.
The Olympic champion finished second in his heat in 7:34.60, just behind Hungary’s Zalan Sarkany after a fascinating head to head.
“I tried to make it as comfortable as possible,” Wiffen said.
“I felt really good, surprisingly, after last night. I thought I’d be holding a bit fatigue, but I’m happy. I’m ready for tomorrow night.
“I’m here to do a job, and that’s to win the event that I came here for.”
Evan Bailey also made solid return to action after his bronze medal on Thursday. The Wexford man won his Men’s 100m Freestyle heat in a massive lifetime best of 47.53 seconds, but missed out on progression to the semi-finals in 32nd overall.
Bailey lowered his previous effort by 1.6 seconds from Lane 9, though this was a scintillatingly fast field with 46.91 the 16th and final time to advance.
“I’m happy enough with that, even if I don’t make it back,” Bailey said after he finished.
“I’m happy with a new personal best. To come back and swim that off the back of last night, it was a bit of a sleepless night.”
On last night’s medal he added: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, it’s a bit of a crazy feeling, it feels a bit like a dream and hasn’t really happened – it was probably one of the best moments of my life.”
Irish trio Cormac Ryan (49.09), Matthew Hamilton (49.80) and Adam Bradley (50.02) all shared an earlier heat, with Ryan finishing second.
Ellen Walshe won her Women’s 200m Individual Medley heat, touching in 2:09.21 to progress to the semi-finals in sixth overall. Ellie McCartney was listed in the same heat, but did not start amidst a heavy schedule.
Reflecting on her performance, Walshe said: “This morning, I just wanted to get back in the top 16 and embrace my own race. In the middle lanes, it can be hard because there’s so much going on around you, but I just tried to stick to my own plan.”
Rosalie Phelan clocked a lifetime best of 54.16 to finish third in her Women’s 100m Freestyle heat, but won’t progress to the semi-finals in 32nd overall.
Wiffen (1500m Freestyle gold, 400m Freestyle bronze), Bailey (200m Freestyle bronze) and John Shortt (200m Backstroke gold) have all medalled in Lublin this week.
Day 4 Schedule – Friday 5th December
18:06 – Men 100m Backstroke Final – John Shortt
18:12 – Women 200m Breaststroke Final – Ellie McCartney
19:06 – Women 200m IM SF – Ellen Walshe
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