In pictures: Mona’s friends on a high morning after her Olympic triumph in Paris

For Mona McSharry’s school and swim friends, Roisin Maguire and Ruby Hurst, Monday night’s Olympic bronze medal winning performance was special.

The two girls, who were her training partners at the Marlins Swim Club for many years, were over the moon to be poolside on Monday evening as Mona swam her way into history in the 100m breaststroke final.

“We’re still on a high. It was absolutely unreal,” said Roisin and Ruby, speaking to Donegal Live the morning after watching her friend, Mona McSharry, win Olympic bronze in the pool in Paris.

The pair were two of roughly 30 who had tickets poolside for the 100m breaststroke final on Monday night.

“It was unreal to have that many from the general area, from Grange and Donegal and the surrounding areas. It was great to see the Irish flags popping up.”

The noise levels around South Donegal and North Sligo were pretty high but it was nothing compared to the stadium in Paris as the competitors entered the arena around 8.35 on Monday evening.

“We probably sounded deranged, to be honest with you. The two of us were over in a different section from nearly everyone else. When she (Mona) came out the roar; the stadium’s insane anyway but you would have felt that there were a thousand Irish in there the noise they were making. It was absolutely mental.”

The Ballyshannon girls were so  proud to be there to witness their friend’s success and they knew the huge journey she had made from those early days in the pool in Ballyshannon to be an Olympic medal winner. They didn’t get to meet Mona afterwards but they were in touch.

“We got a message from Mona, but she’s happy out. She was going to bed to rest and the medal was on the pillow beside her.”

The girls were hopeful that they  might get to see Mona “but we will see how the cards fall. She has a break now and it’s a well deserved rest that she needs. If we get to see her great but if not we will see her when she gets home. We’re just so  happy for her and we will celebrate with or without her,” said her friends.