Impressive Mona McSharry books place in World Championship semi-final as top seed

Mona McSharry breezed her way into the 100m breaststroke semi-finals at the World Aquatics Championships as the top seed.

The Marlins Swimming Club star, an Olympic bronze medalist last year, won her heat in fine fashion at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Touching the wall in 1:05.99, McSharry is the top seed now for Monday afternoon’s semis.

It was McSharry’s sixth fastest time of her career with her Irish record in the event standing at 1:05.51 - clocked in Paris last summer.

Since the Olympics, McSharry spent a long time out of the pool, but appears to be hitting form again at the right time.

"I'm definitely feeling good,” McSharry said. 

“That race kind of hurt and I think, talking to Ellen (Walshe) a little bit yesterday, it's kind of just getting the first one out of the way.

“Just trying to push through that, and there was a second I was like, 'I don't know if I'm going to be in the semi'. I was like, no, you just got to go. And I'm excited to see that, another close finish, but again on my side.”

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McSharry, a native of Grange, competed in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, finishing fifth in the 100m breaststroke final.

She also participated in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February 2024, placing fifth in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals.

McSharry saw off Anna Elendt from Germany, who finished in 1:06.01.