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Irish swimmers had another impressive evening at the Duna Arena in Budapest as Shane Ryan confirmed a place in his first World Final since 2018, Ellen Walshe broke her sixth Irish Record and Danielle Hill moved up the rankings to eleventh in the World. 

Shane Ryan improved on his time from Thursday morning’s heats in the 50m Backstroke to make Friday’s Final in the event, the 30-year-olds first World Final since the World Championships (SC) in 2018.

Ryan led for much of the 50m sprint but was pipped in the last five metres to finish fourth in his heat and eighth overall in 22.89, faster than his heat time of 22.98 and just .13 of a second off his Irish Record of 22.76 set in that last World Final in 2018, where he won 50m Backstroke bronze for Ireland.

The National Centre Dublin swimmer spoke after the race, saying, “I’m good, but annoyed, I didn’t get any sleep during the day, and if you don’t get any sleep, you’ve just got to chill out the best you can and take your mind away from it, but I get very excited about racing. But look I came in, shoulder felt a bit better, but again it’s just lack of racing this year. I got faster there which was good, so it’s just cleaning it up again, that’s it, going out, having fun, racing the other boys, because it was fast!”

The 50m Backstroke Final will take place on Friday at 17.12 (IRL).

Ellen Walshe continued her outstanding record-breaking form, securing her sixth Irish record in just three days of racing. Having lowered the 100m Individual Medley Record of 59.30, that she set in November, to 58.85 in Thursday morning’s heats, the Templeogue swimmer knocked another .3 of a second off, touching in 58.55 for fourth in her heat, just missing out on the Final in ninth place overall.

Commenting on the race Walshe said, “I was in the middle lanes with the fastest girls and it’s a great race to be part of and I can see myself in the mix. It’s not a main event for me and I think sprint is very different from what I’m used to, so I’m happy enough with the swim.”

On her six Irish Records Walshe added, “I don’t know, to be honest it’s been a great meet so far and may it continue into the 100 Fly tomorrow. It’s been great and there’s been great team support.”

Danielle Hill was just one hundredth of a second off her Irish Record in the Women’s 50m Backstroke Semi-Final as she clocked 26.34 to move up the world rankings from thirteenth to eleventh. Hill’s Irish Record currently stands at 26.33 from the European Championships (SC) in 2023.

Speaking after her race the Larne swimmer said, “I’m happy that I did what I wanted to from heats to semi’s and fixed what I wanted to fix, 50s are so hard because you’ve got to get everything right, the littlest of errors and it will go against you so, I fixed what I wanted to fix is the best way to put it.”

On almost matching her Irish record Hill added, “It’s nice. You know I think sometimes [recprds] are overlooked  and this morning being so far away from it and still making a semi-final at world level is a nice position to be, but we’ve got to find a way to move with the tide of swimming which for backstroke is moving at an exponential rate, so I’ve just got to make sure that I go back home and I’m not getting left behind, back to the drawing board to see what we can improve into long course season.”

Hill returns to the pool on Saturday for the 50m Freestyle.

Joining Ryan and Walshe in action on Friday, National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney and Eoin Corby compete in the 200m Breaststroke, McCartney making her World Championships debut for Ireland, while Max McCusker returns for the 100m Butterfly heats.

Morning Session

National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin made his World Championships debut for Ireland by equalling Brendan Hyland’s 2018 Irish Record of 1:53.19 in the 200m Butterfly. It was a two second personal best for the 20-year-old who’s previous best stood at 1:55.21. Cassin was fourth in his heat and sixteenth overall.

Cassin spoke after the race saying, “I’m so happy, honestly, I didn’t really expect to go that time. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to be over here in Budapest.

 “I mean I think it’s a completely different scene, Europeans in Belgrade definitely felt like a higher up competition, but this just feels like a whole other level so I’m happy to tap into that and you know give it my best shot and represent my country over here.”

Cassin returns for the 400m Individual Medley on Saturday.

Nathan Wiffen was the final Irish swimmer in action on Thursday morning, taking to the blocks for the 400m Freestyle. The Loughborough swimmer swam his second-best time ever in the event coming home in 3:44.05, just off his best time of 3:43.69. The time saw Wiffen fifth in his heat.

Wiffen is back in action on Saturday for the 800m Freestyle.

Day 3 Heats/Finals Results – Thursday 12^th December

 Day 4 Heats Schedule – Friday 13^th December