Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen and Paris 2024 finalist Ellen Walshe are part of Ireland's 12-strong team selected for the European Aquatics Championships (25m) in Lublin, Poland that run from 2-7 December.
Both Wiffen and Walshe were medallists at the 2023 short course championships, with Wiffen claiming 400m, 800m and 1500m gold, as well as setting a world record in the 800m freestyle, while Walshe won 400m individual medley bronze.
Wiffen, who has been recovering from surgery in September, will compete for the first time since the World Championships in Singapore in August.
Walshe is the top seed in all three of her events on the back of her impressive recent form. The 24-year-old set six new national records in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley at the World Aquatics World Cu
World Junior champion John Shortt, who set a new a new Irish senior and junior record in the 200m backstroke (1:51.37) this past weekend, will compete in the 50m,100m and 200m backstroke events in Poland and has posted an entry to the men's 200m freestyle as well
The Galway swimmer has continued his upward progression heads to the championships as one of the in form Irish competitors
"It's another level now (moving from the junior to the senior ranks)" Shortt told RTÉ Sport. "Everybody is as close to perfect as you can get once you get to that top level.
"It means that you have to train hard and work even harder in the pool to maintain positions and to improve every time we swim. It's hugely exciting and I've got to experience it a small bit, so I'm really excited to experience that again"
Mona McSharry has opted not to compete. The Olympic bronze medallist will get her long course (50m) season underway at the US Open in Austin, Texas on 3 December.
The opening day of racing next Tuesday will see all 12 team members in action. Walshe is racing the 50m butterfly with Rosalie Phelan making her Ireland debut in the same event.
Jack Cassin, Evan Bailey and Matthew Hamilton swim the men’s 50m butterfly heats.
Wiffen will compete in the 400m freestyle with National Centre Limerick’s Cormac Rynn and Denis O’Brien.
Under-23 European Champion Ellie McCartney as well as Eoin Corby and Adam Bradley swim in the 100m breaststroke heats, while Shortt will open his championships with the heats of that event.
