Ellen Walshe through to third final at World Aquatics Swimming Championships

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Ellen Walshe during the Women's 100m butterfly semi-final. Picture: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile

Ellen Walshe is through to her third final at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest while bronze medal winner in the 50m Backstroke Shane Ryan has set a new Irish standard in the 50m Freestyle in the heats progressing through to the semi-finals.

Walshe has set eight new Irish records this week will double up on Saturday evening as she competes in the 100m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley finals. 

The Templeogue swimmer qualified for the 100m Butterfly final on Friday as the third fastest qualifier and was third in her heat fo the 400m Individual Medley in 4:29.78 securing fifth seed in the final.

Walshe won silver in the 400m Individual Medley in 2021. Speaking after the race Walshe said "I think this morning was just to be comfortable to get back, I’ve been in this Final before, It’s exciting. I think the two Finals is going to be tough tonight so whatever I have left is whatever I have left. 

"I’m hurting now and I think to finish on a 400m IM is pretty tough, it felt tough this morning, but I know after doing it once this morning that it will be the last race tonight. It’s been a great meet and it’s been exciting."

Ryan was back in the pool after his bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke to set a new Irish Record of 21.07 making him the fastest Irish swimmer ever in the short course pool. He broke Tom Fannon's Irish record of 21.21 set in 2023.

Ryan finished sixth in his heat and is seeded 14th overall. Speaking after the race Ryan feels he can go faster and looking forward to the semi-final. "I didn’t feel great at all this morning, but it’s a PB, but I know what I’m capable of, I can be a bit faster on that and yeah just go back, warm down, have a bit of fun tonight. A PB, a National Record, we move forward.

"I’m a big believer in trying to you know, not sack it off and you have to earn your spot, and you have to give it 100% no matter how your body is feeling and try to represent the country the best you can and that’s what I did this morning. Despite yesterday, you have to put your head back in place, stay in your lane and try to go fast."

Fannon also competed in the 50m Freestyle was just off his best time of 21.21 clocking 21.25 to finish just outside the semi-finals in 17th.

Danielle Hill finished her Championship in a time of 24.35 outside of her Irish Record of 24.00 in the 50m Freestyle.  Hill said after the race that she is in a better place mentally but knows there is more work to do. 

"It’s been a lot of learning, a lot of near misses but you know I’ve been through this exact process I don’t know how many times and I’m in a much better place mentally, so you know it’s just about going back and doing more work, I think that’s the harsh reality of it all, I haven’t done enough work and that’s absolutely fine.

"You know the priority this year is actually not swimming. I went back to university and I’m studying a Masters which is quite full on, you know I just sat an exam yesterday morning, from the outside looking in no one sees that, so it’s been tough over the last six months trying to manage going back to school again. 

"But listen, I’m happy, I love where I’m at in my swimming, I’m enjoying it, and I think that’s the main priority moving forward but most definitely can look forward to building into long course season."

Day 5 Finals Schedule – Saturday 14th December

4.32pm: Women's 100m Butterfly final - Ellen Walshe

5.21pm: Men's 50m Freestyle - Shane Ryan

5.30pm: Women's 400m IM final - Ellen Walshe

5.54pm: Men's 800m Freestyle - Nathan Wiffen