Safety net gone after period of transition for Mona McSharry

Mona McSharry heads back to Paris with a new mission in mind - a first European long-course medal.

MAKING A SPLASH: ‘Now I have to make smarter decisions and pick competitions where there is prize money so I can hopefully break even on travelling,’ says Mona McSharry. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Mona McSharry's Olympic bronze medal is mostly tucked away in a wardrobe in Tennessee, but it has made the journey back to Paris with the Sligo swimmer this week.

"I forget about it, to be honest," she admitted with a laugh. "I moved house recently and it was packed away in storage somewhere. I probably should have it sitting out where I can see it and remember what I achieved."