Three Irish swimmers were in action on Wednesday morning, the second day of the 2025 European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
Phelim Hanley delivered the standout performance of the morning. Racing in the 200m Individual Medley, the Cork native smashed his lifetime best by over four seconds to win his heat in 2:07.07 – marking it another big personal best for the second consecutive day after he knocked three seconds off his 200m Butterfly best on Tuesday.
Making his international debut for Ireland, the Blackrock swimmer spoke after the race saying, “I’m really happy. I’ve been trying to get faster for a really long time, and I’ve been working on the breaststroke leg in this event for a while, so I’m glad it paid off.”
Paris Olympian Grace Davison was back in the water this morning following her semi-final appearance in the 200m Freestyle on Tuesday, where she achieved the consideration time for the World Junior Championships in August. Today, the Ards swimmer competed in the 50m Freestyle heats, clocking a time of 26.12. That result places her as the second reserve for the next round.
Lucy O’Brien of the National Centre (Limerick) was the third Irish swimmer in action this morning, making her debut appearance for Ireland in the 100m Butterfly. O’Brien swam a time of 1:02.87, just outside her lifetime best.
John Shortt will head to the blocks later this evening to compete in the 50m Backstroke Final, set to get underway at 17.19 (Irish time).
Evening Report;
Ireland’s John Shortt finished fifth in Europe this evening on the second day of the 2025 European Aquatics Junior Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
The National Centre Limerick swimmer returned to the blocks this evening to compete in the 50m Backstroke Final. Shortt swimming in an outside lane, came through one length of the water in an impressive 25.46, setting a new lifetime best and just .16 off the bronze medal, won by neutral athlete Mikhail Shcherbakovov in 25.30.
Speaking directly after the race, Shortt said, “I’m quite happy with that, another personal best. It’s about re-learning how to swim that race, especially outdoors, I executed everything I wanted to do really well there. I’m a little bit annoyed to miss out on a medal but I am happy overall.”
Ahead of the 200m Backstroke heat tomorrow, the reigning European Junior champion and top seed added, “It’s a big confidence boost because the 200m is my main thing, it’s good to feel where everyone is at, I think I’m in a really good spot. I’m just proud to be out there, Phelim (Hanley) mentioned it earlier how he dreamt of wearing the green jacket and that’s what I needed to be thinking about tonight. The medals are lovely, but it’s about being proud to wear the green jacket, those comments from him earlier were really inspiring.”
For Shortt, the attention now turns to the 200m Backstroke event, an event the Galway man won gold in at the 2024 iteration of this meet. It is a busy morning in Samorin for Ireland with ten athletes in action across the heats, set to get underway at 8:30am (IRL).
Day 2 Heats Results
Women 100m Butterfly Lucy O’Brien1:02.87
Men 200m IM Phelim Hanley2:07.07
Women 50m Freestyle Grace Davison26.12
Day 2 Finals Results
Men 50m Backstroke Final John ShorttH 25.51 (3rd), SF 25.63 (7th), F 25.46 (5th)
