New Irish record qualifies Mona McSharry for 2024 Olympic Games
Mona McSharry significantly lowered the Irish 100m breaststroke record at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan to book her spot at next year's Olympic Games
Mona McSharry confirmed her place at the 2024 Olympic Games with a massive new Irish record on Monday morning.
At the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, McSharry dipped under 1:06 for the first time in the 100m breaststroke.
The Marlins Swimming Club graduate won her heat in 1:05.55.
That time booked a place on the plane to Paris for the Grange woman, who was a finalist in the 100m breaststroke at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Then, she was the first Irish swimmer since Michelle Smith in 1996 to reach an Olympic final.
Monday’s swim in Japan was McSharry’s first time to break 1:06, lowering her own Irish record of 1:06.04 set at the recent Irish Open Swimming Championships.
The Tennessee-based McSharry took a clean sweep of the breaststroke gold medals, taking the 50m, 100m and 200m titles at the Irish Opens.
McSharry will go in the 100m breaststroke semi-finals at the Marine Messe Fukuoka on Monday afternoon Irish time
On Sunday, McSharry, alongside Erin Riordan, Danielle Hill and Victoria Catterson smashed the Irish 4x100m Freestyle Relay record of 3:44.37 in 3:41.75 for a 15th overall finish.