Irish Athletes Impress in Belgrade; Ryan Scorches New Irish Freestyle Record

Day two of the 2024 European Aquatics Championships concluded in Belgrade on Tuesday with a series of fine performances across the board from Irish swimmers and divers. Darragh Greene and Ireland’s Mixed Medley relay were sixth and seventh respectively in their Finals, while Shane Ryan and John Shortt will join Nathan Wiffen in Finals action on Wednesday.

Darragh Greene was the first Irish swimmer on the blocks this evening, competing in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final. The Longford man, who placed sixteenth at the 2022 iteration of this competition, was swimming his first individual international final tonight. Greene performed strongly as he continued to drop times moving through the rounds and into the final, this time clocking 1:00.28 to place seventh in Europe.

Speaking after the Final, Greene said: “It’s my first individual final on the European stage and to go back after Trials just three weeks later, I’m pretty happy with it. It’s indescribable when you get a chance to represent your country, it’s the main reason why we do it and put in the dedication into the sport itself is just to be able to represent your country as best as you can.”

An Irish relay team of Lottie Cullen (Backstroke), Eoin Corby (Breaststroke), Max McCusker (Butterfly) and Ellie McCartney (Freestyle) featured in the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Final, the team secured a European sixth place finish with a time of 3:51.06, dropping five seconds off the morning swim.

As the temperature dropped, the action in the pool heated up as Shane Ryan took centre stage for the 100 Freestyle Semi-Final. Ryan blazed through the water to swim a lifetime best of 48.39, securing a place in the final in joint fifth with Lithuanian Danas Rapsys and Croatian Jere Hribar. The time broke the Irish Senior Record of 48.49 which Ryan set just three weeks ago at the Irish Open and Olympic Trials.

Ryan will return to the pool for the 100m Freestyle Final on Wednesday at 17:52.

John Shortt produced a fine performance to advance from the 200m Backstroke Sem-Final in eighth place with a time of 1:58.89. The 17-year-old, who has competed at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, will compete in his first senior international final on Wednesday.

Shortt said: “I thought I executed it well; it just wasn’t as fast as I thought it was going to be. It was always going to be tough coming out here racing outdoors for the first time, but it’s frustrating.”

Speaking on his progress, Shortt added: “Two years ago, I didn’t expect to be anywhere near this level, at least not for a few years. The progress has been massive, I have to thank my coaches for that, they’ve been amazing.”

Shortt will be back in the pool for the 200m Backstroke Final on Wednesday at 18:34.

Niamh Coyne, who earlier swam 1:09.06 to advance to the 100 Breaststroke Semi-Final, returned to the water this evening, stopping the clock on 1:09.07 to place 13^th in Europe. Coyne is back in action on Thursday for the 200m Breaststroke.

On the other side of the city Clare Cryan was in action in the 1m Springboard Final. Cryan placed eleventh in Europe with a score of 180.00 after five rounds, her best score came in the fifth and final dive scoring 46.80.

As well as Finals for Ryan and Shortt on Wednesday, Nathan Wiffen will also be in action in the 800m Freestyle Final following Tuesday’s sixth place finish in the heats.

Wednesday’s heats will see McCusker return to the pool with Evan Bailey for the 100m Butterfly. Paris qualified Danielle Hill swims the 50m Backstroke heats with Cullen, while Greene, Corby and Uiseann Cooke will compete in the 200m Breaststroke Heats.

In Diving, Ciara McGing will make her debut at these Championships on Platform (10m).

Day 2 Results:

Men 100 Breaststroke Darragh Greene H 1:00.53 (8^th) SF 1:00.46 (7^th) F 1:00.28

Men 100 Freestyle: Shane Ryan H 48.69 (8^th) SF 48.39 (5^th) ISR Q

Oisin Tebite H 52.22 (76^th)

Women 100 Breaststroke Niamh Coyne H 1:09.06 (12^th) SF 1:09.07 (13^th)

Ellie McCartney H 1:09.53 (19^th)

Men 200 Backstroke John Shortt H 1:59.15 (8^th) SF 1:58.89 (8^th) Q

Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay: Ireland H 3:56.11 (8^th) F 3:51.06 (6^th)

Men 800 Freestyle: Nathan Wiffen H 7:54.60 (6^th) Q

Diving

1m Springboard Final Clare Cryan H 205.85 (11^th) F 180.00 (11th)