News

Ireland’s John Shortt has stormed into the 100m Backstroke Final in a new Irish Junior Record on the opening day of racing at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopenia, Romania. The 18-year-old is the sole representative for Ireland at the Championships.

The 2025 European Junior Champion in the event is now the second fastest Irishman ever over the distance after a swim of 53.80 in Tuesday’s semi-final, only Shane Ryan’s 2019 Irish Record of 53.73 is faster.

The Roscam, Galway, native, who also competed at the World Senior Championships in Singapore earlier this month, had cruised through this morning’s heats in 54.39 in fourth overall. This evening’s first semi-final saw Shortt, and the USA’s Gavin Keogh (53.52) take the top two spots for Wednesday’s Final, the second semi-final won by neutral athlete Georgii Iokevlev in 53.90.

Speaking after the race Shortt said, “I am very very happy with that swim, a pb which is nice. Since trials (April) I haven’t been 53 in that event, so to be 53.8 there I’m absolutely delighted with that. It’s going to be a really really close final tomorrow, three of us going 53’s and the Aussie going 54.0. It’s going to be a very packed final tomorrow, but I’ve just got to keep doing my own thing and I’ll be ok. I was very surprised as well with that swim, because coming off the back of Worlds it’s been, to be completely honest, a very lonely ten days in between, so [I] just want to give massive credit to John Szaranek for keeping me going these past ten days or so because it’s just been the two of us really, but it’s been great and I’ve loved it and I really want to end the season on a big high.”

The Men’s 100m Backstroke Final will take place at 16.02 (IRL) on Wednesday.

Results– Day 1 Heats/Finals Tuesday 18^th August

Schedule – Day 2 Finals Wednesday 19^th August

Meet Information:

Schedule: Heats 8am (IRL)| Finals 4pm (IRL)

Results: All World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships Results By OMEGA

Live Stream: Livestream