Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry have kicked off the third and final stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in impressive fashion, winning silver and bronze respectively and setting new Irish short-course records on the opening day of racing in Toronto.
Walshe, who claimed silver in the 200m butterfly last week, did so again in Toronto with a time of 2 minutes 2.73 seconds in last night's final, despite entering as seventh seed.
The Templeogue swimmer took over two seconds off her previous Irish record (2:04.83), breaking it for the third consecutive week.
In the heats of the 100m individual medley, Walshe clocked 58.83 to finish eighth overall, but the two-time Olympian opted out of the final to focus on the 200m butterfly.
Mona McSharry also carried her fine form from Westmont to Toronto. Having won gold in the 50m and silver in the 100m breaststroke events last week, the Sligo native added a 200m breaststroke medal to her haul with bronze in 2:18.27.
McSharry shaved a full second off her existing record of 2:19.29, set just last week, also lowering the record for the third week in a row.
Also competing in the 200m breaststroke final was National Centre (Limerick) swimmer Ellie McCartney, who was making her first appearance at the World Cup. McCartney touched in 2:20.91 to finish eighth overall.
Earlier in the day, the World Championships finalist had qualified third fastest in a time of 2:19.96.
Also swimming in the heats were recent European U23 representatives Lottie Cullen, who competed in the 50m backstroke (26.82), and Brandon Biss, who posted 1:57.69 in the 200m backstroke.
Their National Centre (Ulster) teammate Lachey Reed went 1:03.21 in the 100m breaststroke, while Rosalie Phelan clocked 25.25 in the 50m freestyle, also representing National Centre (Ulster). Alex Moore recorded a time of 23.11 in the men’s 50m freestyle.
Day two sees Mona McSharry and Ellie McCartney compete in the 100m breaststroke, while National Centre (Ulster) athletes Brandon Biss (50m backstroke), Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke), Rosalie Phelan (50m butterfly), and Lachey Reed (50m breaststroke) will also be in action. Alex Moore competes in the 100m freestyle, while Ellen Walshe will race in the fastest heat of the 400m IM later tonight.
Racing continues today, with heats starting at 3pm Irish time and finals kicking off at 11pm.
