A team of twelve Irish swimmers are in Vilnius, Lithuania to compete against Europe’s stars of tomorrow at the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships. The Ireland team will feature across the six days of competition from Tuesday, 2nd – 7th July at the Lazdynai Swimming Pool.

Led by Andy Reid and supported by coaches John Szaranek, Fran Ronan and Curtis Coulter, the Irish contingent includes three swimmers returning for their second consecutive European Junior Championships; Alana Burns-Atkin (Banbridge), Grace Davison (Ards), and John Shortt (National Centre Limerick) were all part of the team at last year’s European Juniors in Belgrade, Serbia. Shortt has since competed at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships and 2024 European Championships and Davison at the 2024 World Championships.

It is an action-packed opening day of competition for Ireland with nine individual swims getting the competition underway. Shortt, Denis O’Brien, Reuben Alty and Leagh Bailey will all compete in the 200m Freestyle, Alty and Bailey making their Ireland debuts.

O’Brien, Niamh Connery (400m IM), Ava Jones (50m Breaststroke), Sean Donnellan (200m Butterfly) and Brydan Byrne (50m Backstroke) will take a step up from the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2023 to European Junior Championships, while Adam Bradley will make his first appearance for Ireland in the 50m Breaststroke.

Speaking before the event, Head of Performance Pathways & Operations Andy Reid said: “The hard work and dedication shown by the athletes, their coaches and their parents has put them in a place where they can stand up this week with the confidence to show their best. The progress within this group of athletes over the last 12 months has been fantastic to watch and we are excited to see them compete.”

Day 1 Heats Schedule:

M 200m Freestyle John Shortt, Denis O’Brien, Reuben Alty
W 200m Freestyle Leagh Bailey
W 400m IM Niamh Connery
M 50m Backstroke Brydan Byrne
W 50m Breaststroke Ava Jones
M 50m Breaststroke Adam Bradley
M 200m Butterfly Sean Donnellan

 

2024 European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships 

Vilnius, Lithuania (2nd – 7th July)

Name Home Programme Home Programme Coach
Reuben Alty Millfield School, England Euan Dale
Leagh Bailey New Ross SC, Ireland Fran Ronan
Adam Bradley City of Liverpool SC, England Darren Ashley
Alana Burns-Atkin Banbridge SC, Ireland Davy Wilson
Brydan Byrne Mount Kelly School, England Emma Collings-Barnes
Niamh Connery Shark SC (Galway), Ireland Trevor Collins & Noel Barrett
Grace Davison Ards SC (Newtownards), Ireland Curtis Coulter
Sean Donnellan Glenalbyn SC (Dublin), Ireland Nickey Burke
Matthew Hamilton Plymouth Leander SC, England Chris Lee
Ava Jones Project 28/Portmarnock SC, Ireland Andrew Addison
Denis O’Brien National Centre (Limerick), Ireland John Szaranek
John Shortt National Centre (Limerick), Ireland John Szaranek