'Just really proud' - John Shortt wins gold medal in 200m backstroke final

The 18-year-old lands his first senior international medal and set a new world junior, European junior, and championship record in the process

John Shortt celebrates with his gold medal after winning the men's 200m backstroke final at the European Aquatics Championships in Poland on Wednesday. Pic: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile.

Ireland’s John Shortt was crowned European 200m backstroke champion at the European Aquatics Championships in Poland on Wednesday night.

In winning his first senior international medal, the 2025 European and world junior champion set a new world junior record, European junior record, and championship record of 1:47.89, breaking Russian Kliment Kolesnikov’s 2017 standard of 1:48.02.

It’s also the third time in two days that Shortt has broken his Irish senior and junior record.

The 18-year-old battled France’s Mewen Tomac throughout and it was at the 150m mark that Shortt made the move to overtake, touching home 0.73 of a second ahead of the Frenchman who clocked 1:48.62. Czechia’s Jan Cejka claimed bronze in 1:49.43.

"Just really proud, you know," said an emotional Shortt after the race.

"I'd be a massive liar if I said I didn't think I had that in me. I honestly didn't really think I was going to lose that. I just felt something last night, where I just felt unbeatable and, you know, now it's just pride, it's just washing over me now and I just honestly can't believe it, it’s amazing.

"I've won medals in the past before, but that’s at junior level and now I'm with the big boys and I don't know, I stood with my heart on my sleeve, I'm a passionate person, I'm so passionate for this flag that's wrapped around me.

"I mean, the people that have come and gone in this sport, I'm just doing it for them really, and doing it for the people back home who aren’t here and I’m just so proud, like it’s the only word I can describe is just to be proud of wearing this flag and repping the flag in the pool on the hat as well.

After receiving his medal, Shortt and hearing the Irish National anthem ring out around the stadium added: "I absolutely love that national anthem, it gives me chills every single time.

"I’m proud to be standing there as an Irishman with a gold medal around my neck, singing the national anthem. The beauty of Irish swimming is that it doesn’t matter where we come from, it does not matter. 

"We are all under the same flag and to share this moment with them is something that I will take forward for the rest of the season and the rest of my career."

Shortt returns to race on Thursday morning in the 100m backstroke heats.