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The Mare Nostrum series is a three-part swimming circuit by the Mediterranean Sea, with meets in Canet en Roussillon (France), Barcelona and Monaco. It gives out bonuses to the top four men and women overall, adding up competitors’ best meets in FINA points at each of the tour stops. The swimmer with the highest race total wins the tour. 

Swim Ireland had a number of athletes in action across Canet and Barcelona. The opening day of meet one saw Irish swimmers claim two gold and bronze, with Shane Ryan claiming victory in the 50m backstroke in a time of 25.58, while Mona McSharry took gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:06.54 and Darragh Greene took bronze in the men’s in 1:01:83.

McSharry went on to claim silver in the 200m breaststroke in 2:26.44, and bronze in the 50m in 30.71 later in the meet.

Moving to Leg 2 of the meet in Barcelona, both Danielle Hill and Shane Ryan secured silver in the 50m backstroke with 27.83 and 25.33 respectively. Ellen Walsh was also 4th in the 200m and 400m IM. Danielle Hill came in 4th in the 100m backstroke, while Darragh Greene was 6th in the 100m breaststroke.

Speaking on the meet, Performance Director Jon Rudd said, “The Mare Nostrum series always guarantees strong and challenging racing circumstances, with a large proportion of the world’s leading swimmers perpetually present at these events. In terms of World Championships preparations, our athletes look to be in a very good place and to capture a number of medals against such opposition is always a bonus. We now look forward to our final preparation meet before Fukuoka, that of the three-day Sette Colli meet in Rome in June”

The preparation for Summer Internationals continues with Irish swimmers in action next week at the Glasgow International (26th- 28th) and the AP Race London International (27th – 29th).