Ireland will have six swimmers compete across three Finals on the final day of racing at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, after Ireland’s Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay qualified for their Final out of this morning’s heats. The team will be Ireland’s first ever relay in a World long course Championships Final.

The team join 800m Freestyle World Champion Daniel Wiffen and three-time World finalist Mona McSharry, who will compete in the 1500m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke Finals at the Aspire Dome this evening.

This morning’s Medley Relay heats were also an opportunity for nations to secure their nation’s places at the Paris Olympic Games, with the combined Top-16 times from Doha and the 2023 World Championships in Japan considered for invitations. As of this morning Ireland sit thirteenth (Women) and fifteenth (Men) and within the quota spots available.

Conor Ferguson (Backstroke), Darragh Green (Breaststroke), Max McCusker (Butterfly) and Shane Ryan (Freestyle) confirmed their place in the Medley Relay Final after an outstanding swim of 3:34.94 to place fourth in their heat and eight overall.

Ireland still have some work to do in the Men’s relay, with two Olympic Qualification Times (OQT) required from the team in order to confirm the Olympic place when the invitation arrives. Ireland have only had one previous Male relay at an Olympic Games when the 4x200m Freestyle competed in Tokyo in 2021.

Speaking after the race Ferguson said ‘I feel absolutely over the moon to get that relay over the line. I said it from the start of the week, and we did it and we all pulled through. I think, it’s one thing we’re across that line, but we all have a bit to drop and that’s the exciting thing, we’re capable of much more.’

Greene added ‘A world final is literally what everyone is working towards, dreaming of, which is huge for us, individually, and as a group, it’s absolutely class.’

While they did not compete in Doha, Ireland’s Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay time of 4:01.25 from the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, remains good enough for a quota spot for Paris 2024. The Ireland team are currently thirteenth, with only one team in this evening’s final having the opportunity to move them down a place should they produce a performance quicker than their time. Ireland already have two females with Olympic Qualification Times from within that relay in Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe.

This will be Ireland’s first Female relay at an Olympic Games since 1972.

Daniel Wiffen confirmed his place in the 1500m Freestyle Final yesterday, his third final of the week, in 14:54.29, ranking him sixth going into the Final. The 22-year-old has a best time in the event in 14:34.91.

Mona McSharry, who was fifth in both the 100m and 200m Breaststroke Finals earlier this week, touched in 30.57 for fourth place in yesterday’s 50m Breaststroke semi-final. The time saw the Sligo woman advance into the Final in sixth place overall.

The Women’s 50m Breaststroke Final will take place on Sunday at 4:09pm with the Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final taking to the blocks at 4:16pm (IRL). The Ireland Men will compete at 5.37pm (IRL).

Daily reports will issue from Doha.

Results Day 8 Heats
Men 4x100m Medley Relay                     Ireland                         3:34.97 (8th)
(Conor Ferguson, Darragh Greene, Max McCusker, Shane Ryan)

Schedule – Day 8 Finals
Women 50m Breaststroke Final             Mona McSharry             4.09pm (IRL)
Men 1500m Freestyle Final                    Daniel Wiffen                 4.16pm (IRL)
Men 4x100m Medley Relay Final           Ireland                            5.37pm (IRL)