Nov 22,2024
Ellen Walshe will spearhead Ireland's team at the world short course swimming championships next month, with Olympic medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry deciding against competing in Budapest.
Olympic finalist Walshe will lead a 13-strong Ireland swimming team in the Hungarian capital from 10-15 December.
In 2021 in Abu Dhabi, Walshe was a silver medallist in the 400m Individual Medley and will be Ireland’s best hope of a podium finish at this year’s event, having just set an Irish record in the 100m individual medley.
Joining Walshe on the team will be Olympic semi-finalist and current European champion Danielle Hill and Olympic semi-finalist Tom Fannon, with three-time Olympian Shane Ryan and his Paris team-mate Max McCusker also travelling.
2024 European Championships finalists Evan Bailey, Jack Cassin, Eoin Corby, Nathan Wiffen, Lottie Cullen, Ellie McCartney and John Shortt join the fray, with Shortt the newly-minted national 200m backstroke record holder since last weekend.
Jon Rudd, Swim Ireland’s national performance director said availability for this event is a very personal decision in the wake of the Olympics in Paris.
"This will be the same the world over, so we will see some events in Budapest boast familiar names and some events where breakthroughs 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."
