Mona McSharry breaks Irish record to reach Olympic final

Mona McSharry set a new Irish record to book her place in the women's 100m breaststroke final at the Olympic Games.

McSharry saved 0.04 off her Irish best when finishing in 1:05.51 in her semi-final.

The Marlins Swimming Club, Ballyshannon graduate goes into Monday's final as the second fastest qualifier.

McSharry touched the wall at La Défense Arena just over half-a-second behind Tatjana Smith, the South African going through in 1:05.00.

Now, the Grange woman will have a good lane draw for the final and will surely be confident of competing for a precious Olympic medal.

Eighth in the women's 100m breaststroke at the last edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, McSharry advanced to the semi-finals as the second fastest of the qualifiers.

In her heat on Sunday morning, McSharry swam the second fastest 100m breaststroke of her career, finishing in 1:05.74.

That time was only 0.19 off her 1:05.55 Irish record in the event, set last year.

It was clear, when she emerged from the water after her heat, that McSharry felt there was more in her tank.

“I think I can tweak something that will help me finish a little bit stronger maybe,” she said as she headed to prepare for her semi-final.

There were no mugs in that semi, either.

McSharry nosed home ahead of Lilly King from the United States, the 2016 Olympic gold medal winner while Tes Schouten, the World gold medallist from Netherlands and Ruta Meilutyte from Lithuania, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist

McSharry, who has just finished a kineseology degree at the University of Tennessee, had, as she predicted something to finish a little stronger.

Now, she shoots for a place among Irish sport's immortals.