17-year-old John Shortt from Roscam in Galway has been included in the Irish team of 13 swimmers heading to Budapest next month for the World Aquatics Championships (Dec 10th-15th). The Irish senior record holder in the 200 metres backstroke will join 2004 Olympic finalist Ellen Walshe, Olympic semi-finalist and current European Champion Danielle Hill and Olympic semi-finalist Tom Fannon, with three-time Olympian Shane Ryan and his Paris teammate Max McCusker also confirmed.
In the 2021 edition of the event in Abu Dhabi, Ellen Walshe was a silver medallist in the 400m Individual Medley and will be Ireland’s premier hope of a podium finish at this year’s event, particularly with both Olympic Champion and bronze medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry opting not to compete in the Hungarian capital on this occasion. Walshe is clearly on early season form, having set an Irish Senior Record in the 100m Individual Medley in recent days. 2024 European Championships Finalists Evan Bailey, Jack Cassin, Eoin Corby, Nathan Wiffen, Lottie Cullen and Ellie McCartney complete the Irish team.
Jon Rudd, Swim Ireland’s National Performance Director said, “In the months following an Olympic Games, this event is a very individualised affair, with some athletes ready and raring to go again and others needing additional time to regroup and refresh after a hectic summer, particularly one which proved to be the best ever for Ireland in Olympic waters. And this will be the same the world over, so we will see some events Budapest boast familiar names and some events where break-throughs can very much be made and opportunities taken. Irish swimming is in great shape, brimming with confidence and this is a very exciting group of athletes to take into a Championships such as this as we build towards the 50m-pool version of the event in Singapore next summer.”
