![\"Ireland's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/I6LFISYAVJUUVPS3RSYD2F7QIA.jpg\")
Ireland’s Sarah Healy finishes in second place and qualifies for the final in her heat. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\nEuropean Aquatics Championships:<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s 50m freestyle final: Tom Fannon (6th)<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s 50m breaststroke final: Mona McSharry (3rd)<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s 200m butterfly final: Ellen Walshe (4th)<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay final (6th)<\/p>\n
European Athletics Championships:<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s 1,500m final: Sarah Healy, Sophie O\u2019Sullivan (9.13pm)<\/p>\n
Hi there, David Gorman taking over for the evening\u2019s athletics. The main event will be the 1,500 metres with Sarah Healy and Sophie O\u2019Sullivan going for one more medal for Ireland in what has been a brilliant European Athletics Championships so far. Ian O\u2019Riordan writes that Sarah Healy seeks redemption after her fourth-place finish in the 5,000m. Back in her specialist event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy to have another go at it,\u201d Healy said. \u201cI knew it was a gamble doing this [the 5,000m], it\u2019s not ideal preparation, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to have taken a lot out of my legs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland’s Sarah Healy finishes in second place and qualifies for the final in her heat. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\n
What a week for the Irish swimmers in Paris.<\/p>\n
They finish up with five medals, three coming from Mona McSharry and two from Ellen Walshe.<\/p>\n
But it was all huge performance all round, filled with finals, personal bests, national records, and a few medals for good measure. An absolute joy to watch.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s it from me for the evening, thanks for following along. David Gorman is going to take over for the athletics, with Sarah Healy and Sophie O\u2019Sullivan running in the final of the women\u2019s 1,500m at 9.13pm.<\/p>\n
And Michael Scully will have reaction from Paris shortly, so stick around for that.<\/p>\n
France up to second, the crowd is going to erupt.<\/p>\n
Neutral team lead down the final length.<\/p>\n
Italy surge back late to snatch second from France.<\/p>\n
It finishes up:<\/p>\n
Neutral Team BItalyFranceBritainGermanySpainDenmarkSwitzerland<\/p>\n
Italy in front at the halfway point. Britain alongside the neutral team battling for second.<\/p>\n
L\u00e9on Marchand pulls France up to fourth.<\/p>\n
Kliment Kolesnikov sets the neutral team off in world-record pace. They lead Italy after the first 100m.<\/p>\n
Adam Ramsay-Peaty in the pool for Britain on the breaststroke leg. He\u2019s had a bit of a \u2018mare this week but he\u2019s doing mighty work here.<\/p>\n
That brings the curtain down on Ireland\u2019s involvement at the European Aquatics Championships, but since we\u2019re here, we\u2019ll stick with the men\u2019s 4×100 medley relay.<\/p>\n
The neutral athlete team from Russia were the fastest qualifiers, so go in lane four. Britain are in the other speed lane on their right but may struggle here.<\/p>\n
Italy lead Britain down the final length, the neutral team in third. They stay in that order to the wall.<\/p>\n
Davison touches the wall for Ireland in sixth in a new national record of 3:57.26.<\/p>\n
Brilliant breaststroke leg from Mona McSharry. Ellen Walshe enters in fourth for the butterfly 100.<\/p>\n
Walshe digs deep, she must be exhausted, she holds fifth for Grace Davison to take it home with the freestyle leg.<\/p>\n
McSharry takes over from Cullen in seventh. Italy still with the lead.<\/p>\n
McSharry moves Ireland up to fifth at the turn on to the 200.<\/p>\n
The swimmers are in the water for the backstroke start.<\/p>\n
And they\u2019re off.<\/p>\n
Italy lead at the 50-meter mark. Cullen turns in eighth for Ireland.<\/p>\n
A reminder, the Irish order is:<\/p>\n
Lottie Cullen (backstroke)Mona McSharry (breaststroke)Ellen Walshe (butterfly)Grace Davison (freestyle)<\/p>\n
Ireland go in lane one.<\/p>\n
Back to Paris for the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay now.<\/p>\n
The teams have just been introduced so we\u2019ll be under way shortly.<\/p>\n
A quick trip back to Birmingham where Andrew Coscoran is receiving his bronze medal from the men\u2019s 1,500m.<\/p>\n
The Irish crowd from Kate O\u2019Connor\u2019s ceremony is certainly still there, the Dubliner gets a deafening cheer when he steps up on the podium.<\/p>\n
Sweden\u2019s Samuel Pihlstrom receives the silver medal and Stefan Nillessen from the Netherlands gets his gold.<\/p>\n
![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7CQYPV3Y5FHFJEGAUZXHRRM4DE.jpg\")
Andrew Coscoran receives his bronze medal from the men’s 1,500m. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\n
A little chuckle from Coscoran as ol\u00e9s break out again from the crowd when the three medallists cosy up on the top step for a photo. I\u2019m sure Pihlstrom and Nillessen appreciate the Irish atmosphere, they\u2019re in great form.<\/p>\n
And here\u2019s Ellen Walshe after she finished fourth in the women\u2019s 200m breaststroke final, narrowly missing out on her third medal of the championships.<\/p>\n
“I’ve got to be happy with what I achieved tonight.”<\/p>\n
Ellen Walshe reflects on a long week of racing after she finished fourth in the 200m butterfly final.<\/p>\n
Watch all the action live on RT\u00c92 and the RT\u00c9 Player. pic.twitter.com\/cDyb2IFL5l<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n She too will be back shortly in the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Mona McSharry had to say after earning bronze in the 50m breaststroke: <\/p>\n “\ud835\udde7\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9 \ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf4 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb \ud835\ude04\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude00 \ud835\udfee\ud835\udff5 [\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\ude00]. \ud835\uddd4 \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9 \ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01 – \ud835\uddef\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01 \ud835\udddc \ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04 \ud835\udddc \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01…” \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n She\u2019ll be back shortly as part of Ireland\u2019s 4x100m medley relay team shortly.<\/p>\n L\u00e9on Marchand has just been introduced from the call room for the men\u2019s 400m freestyle final to an almighty roar.<\/p>\n The French 24-year-old is the darling of the home crowd, a five-time Olympic medallist at the 2024 Paris Games (four of which were gold). Anywhere Marchand has cropped up this week, the crowd has gone berserk.<\/p>\n And with good reason, he\u2019s just after winning gold in that 400m freestyle. Hungary\u2019s Oliver Papai comes through for silver, while the world-record holder, Lukas Martens of Germany, takes bronze.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s quartet for the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay will be Lottie Cullen (backstroke), Mona McSharry (breaststroke), Ellen Walshe (butterfly) and Grace Davison (freestyle), Walshe and McSharry doubling up this evening after their individual efforts.<\/p>\n That\u2019s on the agenda for 7.02pm.<\/p>\n Since we have a little time to spare, Ian O\u2019Riordan has a wrap of this morning\u2019s athletics: <\/p>\n Hopes that Irish athletes might make an impression on the European Championships marathon slowly faded around the streets of Birmingham on Sunday morning, Paul O\u2019Donnell the sole finisher with his 43rd in the men\u2019s race, clocking 2:20:41.<\/p>\n Fionnuala McCormack had started the women\u2019s race with medal aspirations after finishing ninth in the marathon at the World Championships last September. Running cautiously early on, passing the 10km in 24th, the Wicklow woman was forced to drop out shortly afterwards due to feeling unwell.<\/p>\n The gold medal went to Finland\u2019s Alisa Vainio, who smashed the championship record with her front-running victory in 2:22:26.<\/p>\n Waterford\u2019s David McGlynn made it to the 25km mark in the men\u2019s race before also retiring, while Cork\u2019s Ryan Creech withdrew before the start with a \u201cminor medical issue\u201d, according to Athletics Ireland.<\/p>\n The men\u2019s European title went to Amanal Petros of Germany, who finished in a championship record of 2:09.11.<\/p>\n Kate O\u2019Connor, our European Heptathlon Champion.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old wells up a bit as the anthem draws to an end. Lovely to see such a strong Irish crowd there to mark the moment.<\/p>\n These medals are coming rapid. Back in Paris, Mona McSharry is picking up her bronze medal from the women\u2019s 50m breaststroke.<\/p>\n The stage for the medal ceremonies is outside the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and a huge Irish crowd has gathered to celebrate the Dundalk woman.<\/p>\n Ol\u00e9s all round and Kate is beaming as ever as Amhr\u00e1n na bhFiann plays out in Birmingham.<\/p>\n There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as hundreds of Irish fans turned out to watch Kate O’Connor receive her European gold heptathlon medal in Birmingham.<\/p>\n What. A. Star.<\/p>\n Watch all the action live on RT\u00c92 and the RT\u00c9 Player. pic.twitter.com\/AMLw6Uatep<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A brief break from the action in the pool, we\u2019ve the final of the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay still to come, but it\u2019s time for one Kate O\u2019Connor to pick up her gold medal.<\/p>\n The ceremonies were postponed last night, so both O\u2019Connor and Andrew Coscoran will officially get their medals now.<\/p>\n MacInnes still with the lead on the final turn. Walshe turns in sixth and starts to push for home.<\/p>\n Walshe battles hard but can only manage fourth. Another powerful final length, but not enough on this occasion.<\/p>\n Away they go. Britain\u2019s Kate MacInnes with the early lead, Walshe in the midfield.<\/p>\n Walsh turns in seventh with 100m to go.<\/p>\n Ellen Walshe goes in lane two, she gets a nice cheer from the ground when she\u2019s introduced from the call room.<\/p>\n Four lengths of the pool. Let\u2019s see what Walshe has left in her after a golden week.<\/p>\n Hungary\u2019s Hubert Kos sets a championship record to take gold in the men\u2019s 200m individual medley final ahead of Spain\u2019s Hugo Gonzalez de Oliverira and neutral athlete Mikhail Shcherbakov, who sets a world junior record for bronze.<\/p>\n Now we\u2019re on to the women\u2019s 200m butterfly final, Ellen Walshe in action here.<\/p>\n What a finish from McSharry. A third medal at these championships; two bronze and a silver.<\/p>\n Confirmation of the medals in the women\u2019s 50m breaststroke:<\/p>\n Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania) \u2013 29.93Benedetta Pilato (Italy) \u2013 29.94Mona McSharry (Ireland) \u2013 29.95<\/p>\n They\u2019re on the blocks and they\u2019re off.<\/p>\n Great dive from McSharry, she\u2019s in contention at the 25-meter mark.<\/p>\n BRONZE FOR MCSHARRY!<\/p>\n Straight on to the women\u2019s 50m breaststroke final. Mona McSharry\u2019s in lane one.<\/p>\n Does she have another medal in her..<\/p>\n Amazing close to the race for Fannon, he was the fastest finisher of the lot.<\/p>\n Confirmation of the medals:<\/p>\n Nikita Sheremet (Ukraine) \u2013 21.13Egor Kornev (NAB); Andrej Barna (Serbia) \u2013 both 21.37<\/p>\n And they\u2019re off.<\/p>\n Fannon surfaces a bit early but goes hard to the finish.<\/p>\n Sheremet powers home for gold.<\/p>\n Tom Fannon finishes sixth for Ireland.<\/p>\n Nikkita Sheremet from Ukraine was the fastest qualifier for the 50m final, he goes in lane four, his compatriot Vkadslav Bukhov on his should in lane three.<\/p>\n Russian swimmer Egor Kornev, competing as a neutral athlete here, is another one to watch in lane five.<\/p>\n The eight finalists are just being introduced to the crowd in Paris.<\/p>\n Fannon\u2019s event, the men\u2019s 50m freestyle, is referred to as the \u2018splash and dash\u2019.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the swimming equivalent of the 100m sprint on the track, with the winner considered the fastest swimmer on earth. Just one length of the pool with no time to make up ground, their dive has to be perfect, and the aim is to complete the full 50 meters flat out without taking a breath.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Cameron McEvoy is the current world-record holder with his 20.88-second time set last year.<\/p>\n For anyone who missed this morning\u2019s action, Michael Scully has a wrap of the results here:<\/p>\n [\u00a0European Aquatics Championships: Sunday morning session reportOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Tom Fannon is up first in the men\u2019s 50m freestyle final, which is due off at 5.30pm.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old qualified sixth-fastest overall from this morning\u2019s semi-finals, putting him in lane seven for the final.<\/p>\n And so we go again. Good evening everyone, and welcome along to our last live blog of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.<\/p>\n Both meets wrap up tonight after a stellar week for Irish athletes. We\u2019ll be taking you through the evening\u2019s action in the pool and on the track, with some reaction to follow later from Ian O\u2019Riordan and Michael Scully.<\/p>\n Five Irish athletes are due to compete in individual events across the two championships later, and the Irish women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay team will round out our involvement in Paris before we switch focus to Birmingham.<\/p>\n Just because we like looking at it, here are the combined Irish medals from both meets so far:<\/p>\n Ireland medal count (athletics & swimming)<\/p>\n Gold x4: Ellen Walshe<\/a> (Women\u2019s 400m individual medley, Women\u2019s 200m individual medley); Kate O\u2019Connor<\/a> (Women\u2019s heptathlon); Mark English<\/a> (Men\u2019s 800m)<\/p>\n Silver x2: Mona McSharry<\/a> (Women\u2019s 100m breaststroke); Rhasidat Adeleke<\/a> (Women\u2019s 200m)<\/p>\n Bronze x2: Mona McSharry (Women\u2019s 200m breaststroke); Andrew Coscoran<\/a> (Men\u2019s 1,500m)<\/p>\n
Mona McSharry still beaming after her Irish-record-breaking, bronze-medal-winning performance in the women’s 50m breaststroke. pic.twitter.com\/rkUNZdX52a<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Kate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MVBCV5NDSOWYP6S7ZN2ALQSGU4.jpg\")
Kate O\u2019Connor during the heptathlon medal ceremony on Sunday. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/USNCMEMHBQ6EOHEKVP5BRHMMMI.jpg\")
Paul O’Donnell on the finishing straight of the men’s marathon at the European Athletics Championships. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"Ireland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Y3TX35N44SPSLOHDMYJ66MS4NY.jpg\")
Ireland fans cheer on Kate O\u2019Connor ahead of the medal ceremony for the heptathlon. Photograph: Morgan Treacy\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4AWMZUBST62ZG2RWHZ4QJBOJ5M.jpg\")
Tom Fannon ahead of the men’s 50m freestyle semi-final on Saturday. Photograph: Giorgio Scala\/Inpho <\/p>\n