There was a bumper schedule for Team Ireland on day three of the 2025 European Aquatics Junior Championships with ten swimmers in the water. John Shortt and Matthew Hamilton impressed, both advancing through the rounds in their events.
Following last night’s final appearance in the 50m Backstroke, defending 200m Backstroke Champion John Shortt was back in the pool for his main event. The 18-year-old took the lead early in the race, setting the pace for the field. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer maintained the position to secure top seed in a time of 1:59.41.
Shortt said, “It was just a case of getting in and blowing off the cobwebs. I haven’t swum the 200 Backstroke since the Irish Open, it was good, I’m happy with that. It’s now just about keeping out of the sun; it takes it out of you. Ahead of later, I’ll rest, watch some Brooklyn 99 and a bit of Dexter, that’s the plan anyway.”
The Men’s 100m Butterfly was busy one for Ireland with four swimmers in action. Matthew Hamilton was the standout performer, storming through the water in 53.82 to set a new lifetime best and secure a semi-final place in eighth overall.
Hamilton was back on the blocks shortly after, this time for the 50m Freestyle, clocking an impressive 22.95 to finish third in his heat and thirteenth overall, securing another semi-final place this evening.
Speaking after the race, Hamilton said, “It’s brilliant, it’s great to make it back, that’s the goal; its mission accomplished, for now. It’s about focusing on recovery and getting back in the game tonight.”
Reuben Alty zipped up the green jacket for the first time this morning, making his Ireland debut in the 50m Freestyle, the 17-year-old clocking a time of 23.83.
Another Irish swimmer continuing to impress this week is 16-year-old Blackrock man Phelim Hanley. Having already set new personal bests in the 200m Butterfly and 200m IM on his Ireland debut, Hanley returned to the blocks for the 100m Butterfly, touching the wall in another best time of 56.07.
Thomas Bugler, swimming in the same heat as fellow Cork man Hanley, clocked 56.90, while Sean Donnellan touched in 56.70.
Niamh Connery was back in action this morning to compete in the 200m Breaststroke, the Galway native was agonisingly close to a semi-final berth missing out on the final place by just two tenths of a second in 2:33.46.
Another Ireland debutant this week is Adeline Cloutier, following the 50m Backstroke on the opening day, Cloutier was back in the pool for the 200m Backstroke heat, clocking 2:23.20.
Adam Bradley was the final Irish swimmer in action on Thursday morning, the Bangor man went 2:22.61 in the 200m Breaststroke.
Irish swimmers continued to impress on another exciting night of racing in Slovakia at the 2025 European Aquatics Junior Championships. John Shortt secured the centre lane for Friday’s 200m Backstroke Final, while Matthew Hamilton had two top sixteen finishes.
Galway native John Shortt headed into tonight’s semi-final as the man to beat following his time of 1:59.41 this morning. Shortt put on another fine performance for a packed house, setting the standard from the onset by taking the lead and holding it throughout fourth lengths of the pool. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer touched the wall in 1:58.12 to advance as the fastest swimmer for tomorrow night’s final.
The defending champion will face stiff competition for his crown, with Hungarian Zsombor Racz winning the first semi-final closely behind the Irishman’s time in 1:58.91, which is sure to serve up a titanic battle in Samorin.
Speaking directly after the race, Shortt said, “I’m pretty shattered after that, I’m very proud to make another final and to be first going in is a big positive, not too happy with the time but I know what I need to improve to get better tomorrow.
“It’s nice to have a bit of a target on my back, there’s a few guys in there who are really fast, so it’s going to be exciting.”
Matthew Hamilton rounded off an impressive day in the water appearing on the blocks on two occasions this evening to secure two top sixteen places. Hamilton finished thirteenth after his time of 54.08 in the 100m Butterfly. Shortly before that the 17-year-old came through one length of the pool in 23.11 to place sixteenth in the 50m Freestyle.
Speaking in the mixed-zone, he said, “It’s not quite the time I wanted but at the end of the day I made it to the semi-final and it was a pretty solid swim, I improved on the technical aspects of the swim from earlier in the day.
“It’s brilliant, I’m not used to it but to have two semi-final swims on one night is brilliant. The day has gone better than I thought it would, I didn’t think it would go that well, hopefully there’s more to come.”
Day four will see another busy day for the Irish with seven swimmers in the water, including Grace Davison in the 100m Freestyle, the same event where she won bronze at the 2024 iteration of this competition. While later in the day, John Shortt will look to defend his 200m Backstroke title.
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