Irish swimmers win multiple medals at European Aquatics Championships

Irish swimmers delivered a series of strong performances at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, highlighted by Mona McSharry securing a bronze medal in the women's 50m breaststroke final on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The Sligo native finished with a time of 29.95 seconds, breaking the Irish record in the process. The race was won by Lithuania's Rūta Meilutytė in 29.93, with Italy's Benedetta Pilato taking silver in 29.94. This marked McSharry's third medal of the competition, following her silver and bronze in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

Earlier in the championships, on Saturday, August 15, Ellen Walshe of Dublin won her second gold medal with a dramatic victory in the 200m individual medley. Walshe, who had already won gold in the 400m individual medley, came from fifth place in the final 50 meters to touch the wall in 2:09.81. She finished ahead of Italy's Anita Gastaldi and Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk. "I can't believe it," Walshe told RTÉ Sport after the race. "I don't know how I was feeling coming into it. I don't even know, I'm just so shocked." She explained her strategy was to use the underwater phase for a boost before kicking for the finish.