Sport

Mona McSharry finishes seventh in 50m breaststroke European final

Tanya Watson and Ciara McGing finish seventh and ninth respectively in diving final

Ireland’s Mona McSharry. Photograph: Andrea Staccioli/Inpho
Ireland’s Mona McSharry. Photograph: Andrea Staccioli/Inpho
Trish Mayon
Wed Aug 17 2022 - 18:32

Ireland’s Mona McSharry finished seventh in the 50m breaststroke, while Tanya Watson and Ciara McGing placed seventh and ninth respectively in the Platform on day seven of the European Championships in Rome.

McSharry closed out the swimming for Ireland clocking 31.15 in the 50m Breaststroke in a stacked field, where the world record holder from 2013-2017 Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania) took gold in 29.59 and the current world record holder Benedetta Pilato (Italy) won silver in 29.71.

The Tokyo finalist swam three events this week, making finals in all, with her best finish coming in the 100m Breaststroke where she placed fifth.

Tanya Watson and Ciara McGing put on a great display as the pair competed in the Platform Final, a first international final for McGing and the first time Ireland was represented by two divers in an international final.

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McGing’s best score of the five dives came in her opening dive, inward 2½ somersaults for 63 points, while Watson saved her best for last, scoring 64 points for a back 2½ somersaults 1½ twists.

Tokyo semi-finalist Watson finished the higher of the pair with a season’s best 285.55 points with McGing scoring 279.30 points.

Gold went to Great Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Siriex (333.60) with Sophia Lysku (329.80) of Ukraine and Christina Wassen (314.10) of Germany completing the podium.

Next up for Ireland will be 1M Springboard Finalist Clare Cryan in the 3M Springboard on Friday. McGing and Watson return on Saturday for the Synchronised Platform Final, it will be the first time Ireland will be represented at an international competition in the event.

Day 7 Results

Women 400m Freestyle                               Grace Hodgins                   4:25.81 (31st)

Men 400m Freestyle                                      Finn McGeever                 3:56.53 (27th)

Women 50m Breaststroke                           Mona McSharry                 SF 30.90 (7th)      F 31.15 (7th)

Women 10M Platform                                  Ciara McGing                     277.95 (5th)         F 279.30 (9th)

Tanya Watson                   269.90 (7th)         F 285.55 (7th)

Schedule Friday 19th August

Women 3M Springboard                              Clare Cryan                         9am