Mona McSharry just misses final at World Aquatics event after a tough semi-final swim in the 100m breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Despite leading the qualifiers earlier in the day with a superb time, the Sligo swimmer couldn’t match that form in the evening, finishing fifth in her heat and 11th overall, falling short of the final.
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Strong Start, Disappointing Finish
In the morning heats, McSharry looked sharp and confident, posting a time of 1:05.99—her sixth fastest ever. That performance made her the top seed heading into the semi-finals and raised hopes of another major final appearance. But under the evening lights, she couldn’t quite find the same pace. Racing from lane four in the second semi-final, McSharry was in fourth position at the halfway mark but faded slightly in the closing stretch. She finished with a time of 1:06.33, missing out on the top eight spots for the final. China’s Olympic silver medallist Tang Qiantang won that semi-final in 1:05.87, while American Kate Douglass set the pace overall with 1:05.49 in the first semi.
Walshe Eighth in Medley Final
Elsewhere, Ellen Walshe competed in the 200m individual medley final, finishing eighth. Her time of 2:11.57 wasn’t enough to trouble the podium positions. Canada’s Summer McIntosh stormed to gold in 2:06.69, with Alex Walsh from the USA and Mary-Sophie Harvey of Canada claiming silver and bronze respectively.
Bailey’s Breakthrough Moment
Evan Bailey, making his World Championships debut, made headlines by equalling Jack McMillan’s Irish record in the 200m freestyle. Clocking 1:46.66 in the heats, Bailey advanced to the semi-finals with the 15th fastest time overall. The young swimmer from New Ross had never broken 1:47 before, making this a major milestone. Though he couldn’t replicate it in the semis—finishing in 1:48.75—his performance marked a personal breakthrough. Bailey was thrilled, saying he’d been waiting for a swim like this and gave credit to his teammates and training group for the support.
Hill Misses Out in Backstroke
Danielle Hill also began her competition in Singapore, racing in the 100m backstroke. She clocked 1:00.79 in her heat, placing fifth and 18th overall. That result left her just outside the cut for the semi-finals, ending her campaign early in this event.
