Walshe claims gold, McSharry silver but no medal for Wiffen at European Championships

In the 800m freestyle final, Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen finished fourth while John Shortt came seventh in the 200m backstroke final

Ellen Walshe: "I was delighted to see my hand on the wall first but I couldn't even turn around I was just so dead." Pic: ©INPHO/Andrea Staccoli

Ellen Walshe won a sensational gold medal for Ireland in the 400m individual medley at the European Aquatics Championships. The Dubliner swam an Irish record of 4:34.42, overhauling Great Britain's 16-year-old Amalie Smith in an enthralling final freestyle section. 

Walshe was sixth after the butterfly but had moved up to third by the end of the backstroke. She made further progress in the breaststroke, taking second. At the turn of the final 50m, Walshe moved ahead of Smith and powered home.