Swim Ireland Name 13-Strong Squad For Budapest

Olympians & European Champions Among 13-Strong Swim Ireland Squad Set For Budapest

Ellen Walshe and Tom Fannon are among a 13-strong Swim Ireland squad who will compete at the World Short-Course Championships next month in Budapest.

Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry – who between them won Olympic gold and double bronze in Paris – will not be travelling to the meet, which runs from 10-15 December at the Duna Arena.

Walshe – eighth in the 400IM in Paris – won silver in the long medley at the 2021 edition in Abu Dhabi behind Tessa Cieplucha of Canada and last weekend set an Irish 100IM record of 59.30 at the Ulster Championships.

John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Fannon just missed out on the Olympic 50 free final, finishing 10th in a national record of 21.74 in the semis before Maxime Grousset’s withdrawal elevated him to ninth and first reserve.

The 26-year-old was also narrowly locked out at last year’s European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania, where he set an Irish standard of 21.21.

Danielle Hill has so far had a memorable 2024 in which she became the European 50m back champion and 100 silver medallist as well as making the Olympic semis.

Shane Ryan and Max McCusker made up half of the men’s medley relay team that came 11th in Paris while Nathan Wiffen reached the 800 and 1500 finals at the European Championships in Belgrade.

Also on the team is John Shortt, who won 200m backstroke gold and 100 silver at the European Junior Championships in Vilnius, with the 17-year-old having just lowered the Irish 200 s/c mark to 1:52.62 at the Munster Championships.

Jon Rudd, Swim Ireland’s National Performance Director said: “In the months following an Olympic Games, this event is a very individualised affair, with some athletes ready and raring to go again and others needing additional time to regroup and refresh after a hectic summer, particularly one which proved to be the best ever for Ireland in Olympic waters.

“And this will be the same the world over, so we will see some events in Budapest boast familiar names and some events where break-throughs can very much be made and opportunities taken. Irish swimming is in great shape, brimming with confidence and this is a very exciting group of athletes to take into a championships such as this as we build towards the 50m-pool version of the event in Singapore next summer.”

Swim Ireland team for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships (25m) in Budapest, Hungary