New world champ Shortt through to second final as he awaits Leaving Cert results

The Galway teenager will be looking to add 50m backstroke glory to his 100m exploits in Romania but Friday will be tense for other reasons too

LONG AND SHORTT OF IT: John Shortt of Ireland competes in the semi final of the 200m Backstroke during the World Aquatics Championships 2025 in Singapore. Pic: Ian MacNicol/Sportsfile

World Junior 100m backstroke champion John Shortt is through to his second final at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania, this time in the 50m backstroke.

The 18-year-old who on Wednesday night won gold to become only Ireland’s second World Junior Champion progressed in seventh overall after a lifetime best swim of 25.36 in Thursday evening’s semi-final.