Shane Ryan 'shocked' after breaking Irish 50m freestyle record

"That is my first 50 freestyle in two years."

Ireland's Shane Ryan. Photo by Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile

Shane Ryan set a new Irish senior record in the 50m Freestyle on the penultimate day of racing at the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade.

The 30-year-old touched the wall in 21.82, making him Ireland’s fastest ever swimmer in a long course (50m) pool. The time shaved 0.12 of a second off Tom Fannon’s 21.94 from the Irish Open and Olympic Trials in May, which he equalled just yesterday at the Sette Colli Meet in Rome.