Mona McSharry has reached a successive Olympic final after finishing second in Sunday's 100m breaststroke semi-final.
The Sligo competitor clocked a time of on one minute 5.51 seconds, a personal best, as she again finished strongly in the final 50 to secure her place in the medal race on Monday evening.
The 23-year-old qualified second fastest overall behind South African Tatjana Smith (1.05.00). Qianting Tang, who finished ahead of McSharry in the heats, posted a time of 1:05.83 in winning her semi-final.
Earlier, the University of Tennessee competitor eased through to the semis after finishing second in her heat at the La Defense Arena.
Swimming out of lane three, McSharry came home in a time 1:05.74 seconds - to finish third overall
McSharry's earlier PB for the race was 1:05.55, clocked at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
The 23-year-old (above) was very satisfied with her performance.
"I'm excited, I think there's a little bit more in me, judging by how I swam that race," she told RTÉ Sport.
"Nerves got the better of me. It's exciting and know I'm in the semis and deserve to be here and try get a place in final.
"It's about where I want to be, just swim a little more relaxed and a little more confident."
McSharry said she was unbothered by the delay before her race as a hat from the previous heat had to be fished out of the pool, also enjoying the atmosphere rather than being overawed by it.
"It's nice to have first swim out of way and experience the crowd," she added.
A beaming Mona McSharry has her focus fixed on reaching the final of the 100m breaststroke after clocking her second-fastest time ever in the heats earlier. #RTESport #Paris2024
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"I was nervous watching Ellen (Walshe) yesterday because it was very loud but once you're down there and in the zone you don't really notice it."
The University of Tennessee graduate struck a confident tone when looking ahead to tonight's semis, where she swims in lane five of the second semi-final after 8.10pm.
"Make it to the final, that's the job tonight," she said. "And then rest up and see what happens in the final - one in eight chance of getting hands on the wall first."
