Mona McSharry has won her third individual medal of the week at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
McSharry finished in third place in the 50m breaststroke final to cap off a memorable week for Team Ireland with five medals so far.
The 2024 Olympic medallist entered Sunday’s race in red hot form having won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and a bronze in the 200m breaststroke already.
The Sligo star touched the wall in a time of 29.95 seconds, to take the bronze medal in a new national record.
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte told gold in 29.93, with Italy’s Benedetta Pilato landing silver in 29.94.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀!
Mona McSharry breaks the Irish record on her way to bronze in the women’s 50m breaststroke. pic.twitter.com/iGNc6p3Njm
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2026
A clearly delighted McSharry gave her reaction to RTÉ as she delivered on the double, saying: “That was amazing, the goal going in was a 29, a medal would be great. The fact that I was able to get both, that first 25 just clicked. So I’m happy.
“It has been a stacked week and it’s good to be able to show myself that I can perform back-to-back. The relay this morning rejuvenated me so that was great.”
There was no such glory for Ellen Walshe, however, who was pipped at the post in the 200m butterfly final.
Walshe was next into the Parisian pool for an expectant Irish support and clocked a quick time of 2:07.40 but just missed out on bronze, having already taken two gold medals in the 200m and 400m medleys.
Keanna McInness of Great Britain came out on top in 2:05.90, ahead of Denmark’s Helena Rosendhal Bach and Spain’s Laura Cabanes Garzas.
She too broke the national record for the event with her time.
Walshe said: “I’ve got to be happy with what I achieved tonight. I think it’s been a super long week of racing and there’s a lot of racing in my legs.
“It was a great race with the girls and they kept me honest. I fought to the end, I just didn’t really have enough to catch [Garzas].
“I think I just need to get out a bit quicker and probably gave them a little bit too much up the front. They felt I was catching a little bit.
“But sure I’m delighted with what I’ve achieved this week. It’s probably a dream.”
Earlier in the session, Tom Fannon finished in sixth place in the men’s 50m freestyle final, touching the wall in a time of 21.59 seconds.
In reflecting on his effort in Paris, Birmingham-born Fannon, who switched his allegiance to Ireland in 2018, has clear intentions going forward.
He told RTÉ: “It was a very quick final. I can take confidence moving forward but I still have a lot to work on. I’m not the prettiest freestyler in the world and my starts are quite poor.
“To try and medal is the goal. I’m making finals against these amazing lads, so keep moving forward and try and medal in 2028.”
In Ireland’s final race of the week, the women’s 4x100m medley relay team the national record in a sixth place finish.
Their time of 3:57.26 was a fine end for the quartet that featured Lottie Cullen, Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Grace Davison. Great Britain snatched the gold from Italy, in championship record time, with a Neutral Athletes team in third.