Mona McSharry into 200m Breaststroke final at World Aquatics Championships
INTO FINAL: Mona McSharry of Ireland competes in the Women's 200m breaststroke semi-final during day five of the World Aquatics Championships 2024 at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar. Pic: Ian MacNicol/Sportsfile
Ireland's Mona McSharry finished third in her semi-final heat to progress to tomorrows's 200m Breaststroke final at day five of the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.
The Sligo woman completed the race in a time of 2:25.13, slightly slower than her time in the morning heats of 2:24.82, to finish third in her heat and seventh overall.
McSharry spoke after the race about her delight at getting into the final after a disappointing start to the competition finishing in fifth in the 100m breakstroke final on Monday. McSharry is aiming to hammer down her spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics tomorrow.
"I'm excited you know that was a little bit slower than this morning but again one of my fastest races and based on how I feel getting out of it I feel like I put it well together and the last 50 felt pretty strong.
"I think tomorrow is just about having big guts and kind of pushing to go out a little bit stronger the first 100m tomorrow".
"I'm excited you know I say time and time again but the 200m are tough one for me just mentally and I feel like I approached it well today.
"And you know trying to get some good rest and come back tomorrow and really try and hammer down that Olympic qualification would be just amazing and I think this is gonna be a really good opportunity to do it."
Meanwhile, 17-year-old John Shortt set an Irish record in the 200m Backstroke semi-final finishing 14th in a time of 1:58.47 in his first World Championships.
Shortt was delighted with his preformance in his first World Championships semi-final "I was a bit disappointed with the swim this morning because you know I've been training a lot better than what that swim showed but I think that's when tonight properly showed what I can do and I'm just another inch closer to that Olympic time which hopefully I will have a bit of a crack at in Dublin".
Shortt is one second outside the Olympic Qualifying Time of 1:57.50 and his focus will be on achieving the time.
"We got to get back and will rest for a little bit but I went straight back to work and we've Edinburgh in a couple of weeks."
The Galway teenager soaked in the atmosphere during his first World Championships semi-final. "It was a it was a moment that I think I'll hold you know in my heart forever.
"It was amazing especially to see my family out there who had just been unbelievable this past like couple of months.
"I've moved to start to Limerick full time so they've all been unbelievable and it was so nice to show them a good swim out there."
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