History beckons as Mona McSharry readies for World Championship final

Mona McSharry says she is ‘excited’ for what she can do in this evening’s World Championship final.

McSharry goes in the 100m breaststroke final looking to win Ireland’s first ever medal at these championships.

The Marlin’s Swimming Club, Ballyshannon graduate breezed into the final when easing through Monday’s heat and semi-final to earn a middle lane draw for the final in Doha.

McSharry, from Grange in County Sligo, swam a 1:06.11 semi-final to go into the final as the second fastest qualifier - behind only 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Qianting Tang, who won the heat in 1:05.36, a new personal best.

“Really happy with that, progressing it on from the morning which was my main goal,” McSharry said. “And excited now to see what I can do in the final, and just race it.

“I’ve a good lane, so just race. I’ve set myself up in a good position to do what I want to do in the summer, so you get to the final and you race what’s in the pool next to you, it’s going to be really good practice just to try and get my hands on the wall first.”

McSharry, Tang, her Chinese colleague Yang Chang and Dutchwoman Tes Schouten are the chief medal contenders.

Last year, McSharry was only 0.13 seconds off a medal at the 2023 edition in  Fukuoka, Japan - where she swam a 1:06.07 final after setting a new Irish record of 1:05.55 in her heat.

The 100m breaststroke takes place at 5.45pm in Doha.