Five medals, one wall: How roommates Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe inspired each other

Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe explain how they supported each other as they won five medals at the European Aquatics Championships

Ireland’s 4x100m medley relay of Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe, Lottie Cullen and Grace Davison took nearly three second off the Irish record as they came sixth in the European final. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrea Masini

As Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry left their room for Sunday's final session at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, they glanced at the four medals hanging on the wall. 

There were Walshe's golds from the 200m and 400m individual medleys, alongside McSharry's silver form the 100m breaststroke and bronze from the 200. 

"That was the extra reminder," said Walshe, "when we left the door close: 'Can we bring another one home tonight?'"

And so they did. McSharry made it five when she claimed bronze in the 50m breaststroke. Walshe came oh so close to making it six in the 200m butterfly. Five medals for Ireland at these championships. Five medals for the roommates. 

"There's been some jellies, biscuits - you have to have something with your tea at night!" McSharry revealed about her week with Walshe.

"It's amazing that we're able to have each other at this point. We know that we want a room together. We know each other so well. That just takes out a little bit of doubt when we are away to these competitions because it's a long week.

"Knowing that you have a room you can go back to where you can be quiet or you can be chatty or you can complain if you want to for a second; then know that they are going to listen and then be like 'stop that' and kick you out of it."

Walshe said there had been "a couple of books, some TV, and loads of chats." 

"It's just been very special," she continued. "I think we're well able to get each other to that racing mindset which is hard to do when the days go on, you get more and more fatigued. 

"It's hard to stay focused but I think we did a really good job of it this week and just tried to help each other be like 'No, come on we do have this'."

McSharry produced the performance she wanted in the 50m breaststroke, smashing her Irish record by going under 30 seconds for the first time. Her 29.95 was just 0.02 behind gold medallist Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania. 

"I saw the three little red dots on the block and I was like 'oh wow I actually did it'," she said.

"I felt really good in that one. I think the heats and semis felt a little off in the first 25. I was like 'I just need to trust myself and go for it' and I did. It just shows that you know you're never out of the race."

Mona McSharry with her 50m breaststroke bronze medal. Pic: Ewan Gavet/Sportsfile

Walshe thrilled in both of her gold-medal swims, moving from the back of the field to the front over the closing lengths with the help of her powerful underwater work off the turns. In the 200m butterfly final, that nearly happened again as she moved from sixth to fourth, finishing just 0.19 off the bronze medal. 

"It definitely stung the back end and I just didn't have quite enough to catch the Spanish but look I'm absolutely delighted," she said.

"I've been up the top of all my events this week and that's unusual. In an international meet, you need to be primed for all them.

"I've done 2k in racing. I can feel it today and listen it's been incredible. It's something I probably could only ever dream of, standing on the podium not once but twice and hearing the anthem."

A busy week concluded with McSharry and Walshe joining Lottie Cullen and Grace Davison to take nearly three seconds off the Irish 4x100m medley relay record, finishing sixth in 3:57.26.

"We were at that four minute barrier for quite some time and it's really exciting to be able to drop it by three seconds," said McSharry. "I think it just shows where swimming is going, which is really exciting."

Walshe added: "It was nice to get out there with the girls. We had good fun in the call room, just singing and dancing and planning our outfits - they all matched... ish. It was a great way to finish and we all performed to our best tonight."

Next week, McSharry, Walshe and Ireland teammate Danielle Hill will travel around the country putting on clinics for young swimmers. 

"It's great to give back to the sport," said Walshe.

"That was us one day, that young kid, teenager with a big dream. Even just to teach them something small, even just believing in yourself, it's whatever they take away from it. We're super excited to get out next week and travel around Ireland."

McSharry is excited for their "little road trip". 

"Being able to bring [the medals] and show the kids 'This is what you can do if you commit to it' and letting them ask us any questions is just really exciting," she said.

Their road trip goes international in October when they compete on the three stops of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. 

"We're going back on tour again, off to some cool places!" said Walshe.

"Another three weeks. We're travelling with two of the British girls as well. There's going to be a lot of fun and we're super excited to build through the weeks and just have a blast.

"Last year was absolutely incredible, great success and also just a great learning experience along the way as well and a lot of travelling."

The medals will be coming off the wall and returning home but the roommates will be staying on tour.