Mona McSharry is through to the 100m breaststroke final following another Olympic qualification time swim in her semi-final at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
McSharry is now just the third Irish swimmer and first female swimmer in 29 years to make a world long course final.
The 22-year-old advanced to the semi-final in second place in a new Irish record time of 1:05.55, her first time under 66 seconds. This afternoon, the Sligo woman swam her second fastest time ever of 1:05.96, for second in her semi-final, held off only by 2016 Olympic Champion and current world record holder Lily King (1:05.45) of the USA.
Mona McSharry 'super excited'
2012 Olympic Champion and former world record holder Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania once again lead the rankings in 1:05.09 with King second, and 200m Breaststroke Olympic Champion Tatjana Schoenmaker third in 1:05.53, leaving McSharry ranked fourth going into tomorrow’s final.
23 July 2023; Ireland relay 3, from left, Mona McSharry, Erin Riordan and Danielle Hill, watch teammate Victoria Catterson in the Women’s 400m Relay during day during day nine of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A in Fukuoka, Japan. Photo by Ian MacNicol/Sportsfile
"I’m super excited," McSharry said after the race.
"I was reminiscing today about my last worlds which was in 2017 and I remember watching the final with my coach Grace and I was just in awe, so to be able to look forward six years now and actually be in that final that I was just watching and so excited to witness is really exciting.
"Knowing that I got the Olympic time and that’s inevitably what I came here to do in such a big swim this morning, I was like if I can get anywhere near that I’ll be happy, and that’s what it is now a bonus, being able to progress through the rounds like I have is great."
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s final McSharry said: "Getting my hand on that wall as quick as possible, really just race. We’ve got some great people in there, world record holders, Olympic medal winners and that’s really exciting and to be able to race against them is just great."
The 100m Breaststroke Final will take place tomorrow at 1:45pm.
Tomorrow morning, Darragh Greene returns for his second swim of the week in the 50m Breaststroke, Victoria Catterson makes her individual debut in her main event, the 200m Freestyle and Daniel Wiffen makes his first appearance of the Championships in the heats of the 800m Freestyle.
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟
Mona McSharry takes her places amongst the Worlds best!
She's through to the 100m Breaststroke Final in fourth place in 1:05.96.
Set your alarms now for 1.45pm tomorrow! #TeamIreland | #teamarenaIRL | #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/znV5CrbrFO
— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) July 24, 2023
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