Ireland’s Olympic ‘Flame’fired up

Her name means ‘Flame’ in Indian and Sycerika McMahon’s star is certainly burning bright after a week in which the teenager bagged Olympic qualification and a European silver medal.

The Portaferry starlet only turned 17 last month but looked to the manor born amongst the continent’s elite swimmers in Hungary last week.

McMahon was at the Aviva Stadium yesterday to launch the Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards. Having just flown into Dublin the night before, the Leander swimmer was exhausted and looking forward to returning home.