Bronze for Mona McSharry as she claims second medal of European Championships

A strong final 50m saw McSharry moved into the podium positions

Mona McSharry won bronze for Ireland in the 200m breaststroke at the European Chamionships. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrea Masini

Mona McSharry has added a European bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke to the silver she claimed in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.

The Sligo swimmer touched the wall in 2:22.43 behind Great Britain's Angharad Evans (2:21.21) in second, and winner Evgeniia Chikunova, the Russian competing as a neutral athlete, who swam a championship record of 2:19.32.

McSharry was fourth throughout the race, including when she turned for the final length, but managed to overhaul Tes Schouten in the last 50m, beating the Dutch woman by 0.24.

"I was definitely burning up on the last 50," said McSharry.

"I could see obviously Evans beside me and couldn't see anything else. Thank God... I still had to hang on for dear life here. I'm glad that I was on the right side of the tight finish.

"Kind of similar to Paris (in the Olympics) when they have like the little red lights on the blocks, now immediately swinging my head around to see if there's a three dots, two dots, one dot. That's kind of the immediate gratification there."

McSharry had initially been relaxed about the event but swimming 2:23.53 in the semi-final, a slower time than she'd expected, caused some anxiety.

"I definitely was (relaxed) yesterday morning and then the night kind of like bumped me down a bit," she said.

"I kind of just was expecting something a bit faster than a 2.23 at night. I think I was a bit nervous today, questioning the training, questioning everything.

"I have to remind myself that, 'the 100 went well, I PB'd'. That wasn't the time that I wanted, but I fought and got my hands on the wall. I've got to be happy with that."

Ireland's Ellie McCartney finished eighth in the final.