by John Kenny
For the first time ever, Ireland will have two swimmers in a major European final as both Melanie Nocher and Grainne Murphy have made this afternoon’s 400m freestyle final at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Eindhoven.
Nocher was the third fastest qualifier in in 4:06.54 seconds, while Murphy, who took bronze in the 800m freestyle, was fifth fastest of the eight finalists, with a time of 4:06.67.
And as a bonus for the two Irish girls, they will not have to worry about the 400m world champion Frederica Pelligrini, who stopped at the 50m mark and pulled out of her heat.
It is not the first time that the Olympic champion has done this as she has suffered from moments of panic in the pool in the past, and has even been to see a psychologist to seek a solution.
Melanie Costa Schmid of Spain was the fastest qualifier in 4:05.71, with Hungary's Boglarka Kapsa, second behind Pelligrini in the 800m freestyle final, second quickest in 4:06.45.
The final is at 3.30pm.
Meanwhile, Aisling Cooney made the semi-finals of the 50m backstroke in a new Irish record of 28.17 seconds, cutting a tenth of a second off her own Irish standard.
