Mona McSharry and family revel in her journey as much as the destination
TASTE OF SUCCESS: Women's 100m breaststroke final bronze medallist Mona McSharry with her medal. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Olympic bronze medallist, and she’s not done yet.
The scenes inside and outside the Paris La Defense Arena on Monday will live forever in Mona McSharry’s mind and those of her many family and friends who had travelled over from Sligo and from as far distant as Australia to support her.
The bronze medallist waded her way through umpteen media duties after her 100m breaststroke final and planned to eventually treat herself to a muffin and, if it came, a good night’s sleep.
It was very different outside on the Promenade de l’Arche where her green army had taken over the frontage of the Billy Billy bar and restaurant. Laughter punctured the still humid air as it passed midnight and they whetted their whistles and posed for photo.
Her mum and dad, Viola and Aidan, were right there in the thick of it, happy and joyous and endlessly giving of their time to anyone who wanted to ask them about their daughter after a medal that came as a surprise to many but not them.
“Do you know, when we came here I honestly thought that she would get a medal and I’m so delighted for her that she did,” said her father. “She worked so hard for so many years so to get a medal is very special, for everybody.”
McSharry’s story has been embraced even more eagerly because of her journey from a position where she fell out of love with the sport in 2022 to now. She opened up to everyone and anyone about her mental struggles and tears in various call rooms.
She has cried again and again since touching that wall in third, the joy of her achievement swirling around with the memories of all the years of work and of the mental struggles. Make no mistake, her biggest win has been in her own head.
“Absolutely,” said her mum. “I am so proud of her for being so open about her feelings when things weren’t going so well, to be able to say, ‘no, I’m struggling’, and then to turn it around and come back and do this is just brilliant. She is amazing.”
Her daughter spoke of the desire to focus more on the daily journey, of enjoying the ride rather than craning her neck for a gawk at any destination. She would have been happy here regardless of the result in the knowledge that she had done all she could.
When she reached her pocket of supporters behind the podium on Monday night there were hugs with family, immediate and extended, and with friends. No words were spoken. None were needed. She had said it all in and out of the water.
“It’s such a small snapshot of everything we do this year and all of the years building up to this – the really great moments – and all of the friends that you make, all the hard work you put in.
“Training to be the best in the world at something is pretty cool and enjoying those moments is something I’ve really shifted my focus to, and then just enjoying getting a medal too.”
And on she goes.
The heats of the 200m breaststroke start mid-morning on Wednesday and, as was the case with the 100m at the World Championships in Doha earlier this year, McSharry posted a fifth-place finish in that final.
Do we dare dream of more? Of course we do but she has earned the space to go about the rest of her work here now with the same sense of peace and calm that took her all the way to that Olympic podium once already.
There was no pressure on her before Monday. There still isn’t.
“The 200m is something that I’ve really gotten quite fast at so I’m trying not to put a lot of pressure on myself but also be excited for the potential in that event and just go out there and have fun.
“I can maybe be a little less nervous knowing that I made it through the heats and the semis and the final of the 100m and made it out the other side so hopefully I can just carry a little bit enjoyment of the moment and soaking it all up rather than getting worried about what happens in the event.”
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