Duo smash swim records in Budapest

Irish swimmers made waves at the European Junior Longcourse Championships in Budapest today as two national records were smashed.

Fourteen-year-old Laura McDonnell from Santry broke the Junior Irish Record in the 50m fly twice in the one afternoon to finish 11th overall.

McDonnell is swimming a year out of age group in the U16 category and is certain to be a serious contender again next year. Her time of 28.5 knocked former Olympian Carol Ann Heavy’s record off the top.

Meanwhile Nuala Murphy, aged 16, also created a new Irish Junior record in the 800m freestyle competition. Murphy is from Dun Laoghaire and swims with the Trojan club.

Both swimmers are coached by Brian Sweeney, who is a coach with the Team Leinster Programme.