Mona McSharry's mother says watching daughter take home bronze medal was 'extraordinary'
Ireland's Mona McSharry celebrates winning bronze during the Women's 100m breaststrokef Final at the Paris La Defense Arena on the third day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Mona McSharry's mother has said watching her daughter become Ireland's 36th Olympic medalist — and its first swimming medalist since 1996 — was "extraordinary", and "a fantastic moment".
The Sligo swimmer took home the bronze medal for Team Ireland in Monday's 100m women's breaststroke final in Paris by the slimmest of margins, pipping both Italy's Benedetta Pilato and Lilly King of the United States by 0.01 of a second with a time of 1:05.59.
South African swimmer Tatjana Smith won gold with a time of 1:05.28, while China's Qiantang Tang secured silver in 1:05.54
"We were watching it the whole way, but it's just like something that happens in slow motion beside you," said Viola McSharry, Mona's mother.
"It's a weird feeling. It's too hard to describe.
“It could have gone any way. And it was just absolutely fantastic. And she got there in third position.”
Viola said she was immensely proud of her daughter.
"She was very often on the other side where she was number four and it's a bad place to be even if you're in the final, but she's done it this time and we're so proud of her.”
Viola told RTÉ Radio’s the McSharry family had received a “huge amount of support” from the people of Ireland.
“The amount of messages that are coming in is just unreal. The Irish people are really, really good at supporting their own and last night we felt that.”
Mona’s grandfather expressed a similar sentiment, saying he was "so proud" of his granddaughter and the hard work she put in over the years.
Speaking from Mona's hometown of, Grange, Co Sligo, Patrick McSharry said: "Many a hard morning in the frost and snow she went swimming, so all here in Grange is so proud."
Mona’s aunt Patricia Doonan said she was "elated" for her niece.
“I feel like I did the swim myself. I'm just so delighted for her, it's amazing," she said.
"She's dreamed of this since she was a little girl. But, you know, we hear these things being said, and just the reality of it is just so much more amazing. We're so proud, she's just our hero.”
Her uncle, John McSharry, said competing in the Olympics had always been Mona's dream and what she had done on Monday was "astonishing".
“What’s really special about what Mona has achieved is that she started swimming in a 25m pool and in that time maybe over 10 or 12 years she managed to become the European Junior Champion and the World Junior Champion out of a 25m pool," he said.
“I think she has gut determination and resilience and I’m very, very proud of everything she’s achieved, so well done Mona."
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