Mona McSharry's journey from Sligo to Olympic final stardom

McSharry's journey into swimming happened by accident — literally. She was just five years old when she fell into a lake while on holiday in Austria

Mona McSharry powers through the water in the Women’s 100 metre breaststroke semi-final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. ‘People expect success but they don’t realise how big the jump is. But I’m ready and excited to do it,’ says McSharry. Picture: Ian MacNicol

Picture her in her mid-teens, the young, prodigious swimmer with an undeniable gift but with so many rivers to cross before it could be turned into something tangible, something seismic, some achievement that would justify the 4am alarm clock and the 12 hours a week she spent going back and forth, back and forth, across that pool in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.

Mona McSharry had a talent but the kid had a lot more than that. She had belief, commitment, and — just as important as either of those — she had parents who were willing to go above and beyond in assisting her dream and a coach, Grace Meade, with the expertise to take her there.