Walshe wins World Cup gold, McSharry secures breaststroke silver

Ellen Walshe of Ireland.

Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry had a night to remember in Illinois as the duo claimed a gold and silver medal at stop two of the World Aquatics World Cup.

With two silver and a bronze already secured in the 200m Butterfly (silver and bronze) and 400m IM (silver) at this year’s World Cup, Ellen Walshe won her first gold in stunning fashion on Saturday night in the 400m Individual Medley.

The Templeogue swimmer took her first win with over three seconds to spare on her closest rival in a new Irish record of 4:25.38; Walshe had owned the previous record of 4:26.52 from the World Aquatics World Championships (SC) in 2021, where she won a silver medal.

The 24-year-old took over the lead during the Breaststroke (1:14.83) leg of the final, and just like last week, had the fastest split in the freestyle leg (1:00.26), securing the win over Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey who won silver in 4:28.92 and stop one winner Abbie Wood of Great Britain who took bronze in 4:31.84.

After three fourth-place finishes, Mona McSharry has made her way into the top three with a silver medal win in the 100m Breaststroke.

McSharry won her heat earlier in the day in 1:04.39 and improved on that in the final, clocking 1:04.18 to secure her first podium spot.

The USA’s Kate Douglass won the event for the second time in 1:03.14, with her team-mate Alex Walsh third in 1:04.45.

The final day of racing in Illinois will see Walshe double up in the 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley while McSharry returns for the 50m Breaststroke.