Fannon Secures Status as Ireland’s Fastest Ever Swimmer with Olympic Qualification in the 50m Freestyle

Tom Fannon became the latest Irish swimmer to achieve the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) as the Irish Open Championships and Olympic Trials continued at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre today, bringing the list of Irish swimmers with the OQT to five.

Fannon came agonisingly close to the OQT of 21.96 in this morning’s heats touching in 22.02. This afternoon, the National Centre Dublin swimmer timed his swim to perfection, clocking 21.94 to book his seat to Paris; the swim also knocked one hundredth of a second off his own Irish and Championship Record of 21.95.

Speaking after the race a delighted Fannon said ‘I’m over the moon, speechless I can’t lie. I’m so happy that I stuck to the process and the outcome took care of itself. I’m just happy to be on the plane to the Olympics this Summer.’

Grace Davison and Evan Bailey continued their onslaught on Ireland’s junior records with new standards in the 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly respectively. Both swimmers had set the current records in Thursday morning’s heats. In the 100m Freestyle, Ards’ Davison lowered her time of 55.88 to 55.44 and in the 100m Butterfly New Ross’ Bailey knocked .08 off his record of 53.47 to 53.39.

In the Men’s 800m Final Nathan Wiffen was crowned National Champion swimming a best time of 7:54.69, lowering his time of 7:56.40 from Wednesday’s heats. The Larne swimmer was once again under the consideration time for the European Aquatics Championships in June. In second place Daniel Wiffen clocked 8:00.61 while bronze went to National Centre Limerick’s Denis O’Brien in 8:28.43.

National Centre Ulster’s Lottie Cullen claimed her first National Title in the 100m Backstroke with a personal best swim of 1:00.96. Cullen led UCD’s Jena Macdougald (1:02.67) and National Centre Limerick’s Maria Godden (1:02.91) to make her first international team with a consideration time for the European Aquatics Championships.

Conor Ferguson claimed the 100m Backstroke National Title for the third consecutive year. The Loughborough swimmer was under 54 seconds in the Super Final in 53.99 for gold, just outside the OQT of 53.74. Coolmine’s Gavin Keogh took silver in 55.97 while bronze went to NAC’s Matthew Walsh Hussey in 56.24.

In the Women’s 100m Breaststroke A Final Niamh Coyne controlled the race to advance as the fastest qualifier to tomorrow’s Super Final in 1:08.03. The National Centre Dublin swimmer adds her name to those who have achieved consideration times for the European Aquatics Championships.

National Centre Dublin’s Darragh Greene progresses as the top seed to the Super Final of the Men’s 100m Breaststroke in 1:00.36 closely followed by NCD teammate Eoin Corby in 1:00.41 and ESB’s Jack Kelly (1:00.89). All three swimmers were under the European Championships Consideration Time today and will have another shot at the Olympic Qualification Time of 59.49 in tomorrow’s Super Final.

Max McCusker, who set a new Irish Record of 51.90 in the 100m Butterfly on Thursday morning topped the rankings once again in this evening’s A Final in 52.43.  McCusker has only once been faster in the event, at the World Championships in Doha earlier this year. Shane Ryan will be the second seed for the Super Final on Friday in 52.93 and Evan Bailey progresses in third.

Danielle Hill, who achieved the Olympic Qualification Time in the 100m Backstroke on Wednesday, was first home in the 100m Freestyle A Final in 55.17. Grace Davison advances as the second seed with Victoria Catterson third in 55.68. Friday’s Super Final will be the final opportunity for swimmers to put themselves in contention for the freestyle place on the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay in Paris.

In the 1500m Freestyle Ella Carroll claimed gold. The National Centre Limerick swimmer, who has qualified for the European Junior Open Water Championships, was home in 17:35.60 ahead of Templeogue teammates Holly McInerney (17:44.66) and Ava Rock (17:57.37).

Finn McGeever won the 200m Freestyle for the second time in his career and was the only swimmer under 1:50 in 1:49.36. The National Centre Limerick swimmer topped the podium ahead of teammate Cormac Rynn (1:50.13) who once again achieved the consideration time for the European Aquatics Championships. Longford’s Gerry Quinn was third in 1:55.16.

Competition continues tomorrow through to Sunday.

International Swimming Events Summer 2024

2024 Paris Olympic Games 

Olympic Qualification Time Achieved: Daniel Wiffen (400m, 800m, 1500m Freestyle), Ellen Walshe (200m IM), Mona McSharry (100m Breaststroke), Danielle Hill (100m Backstroke)

Women 4x100m Medley Relay, Men 4x100m Medley Relay*

* Two Olympic Qualification Times (OQT) are required from the team in order to confirm the Olympic place when invited

2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, June 17^th – 23^rd

Qualification Time Achieved: Daniel Wiffen (400m, 800m, 1500m Freestyle), Ellen Walshe (200m, 400m IM, 100m Butterfly), Mona McSharry (50m, 100m, 200m Breaststroke), Evan Bailey (200m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly), Conor Ferguson (100m Backstroke), Danielle Hill (100m Backstroke), Nathan Wiffen (800m Freestyle), Ellie McCartney (200m IM), Cormac Rynn (200m Freestyle), Jack Cassin (200m Freestyle), Darragh Greene (100m Breaststroke), Eoin Corby (100m Breaststroke), Tom Fannon (50m Freestyle), Max McCusker (100m Butterfly), Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke), Jack Kelly (100m Breaststroke), Niamh Coyne (100m Breaststroke)

Super Final Results:

Men 100m Backstroke 1^st C Ferguson Larne 53.99 2^nd G Keogh Coolmine 55.97 3^rd M Walsh Hussey NAC 56.24

Women 100m Backstroke 1^st L Cullen National Centre Ulster 1:00.96 2^nd J Macdougald UCD 1:02.67 3^rd M Godden National Centre Limerick 1:02.91

Women 1500m Freestyle 1^st E Carroll National Centre Limerick 17:35.60 2^nd H McInerney Templeogue 17:44.66 3^rd A Rock 17:57.37.

Men 800m Freestyle Final 1^st N Wiffen Larne 7:54.69 2^nd D Wiffen Larne 8:00.61 3^rd D O’Brien National Centre Limerick 8:28.43

Women 200m Butterfly 1^st A Burns-Atkin Banbridge 2:17.23 2^nd E Bayley New Ross 2:26.07 3^rd H Poynton Trojan 2:26.50

Men 200m Freestyle 1^st F McGeever National Centre Limerick 1:49.36 2^nd C Rynn National Centre Limerick 1:50.13 3^rd G Quinn Longford 1:55.16

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