Mona McSharry, the Sligo swimmer, is gearing up for the European Swimming Championships in Paris, with a singular focus: swimming fast. She's scheduled to compete in the 100m breaststroke heats on Monday, followed by the 200m breaststroke later in the week. McSharry's journey to this point has been a rollercoaster, marked by illness at the World Championships and a quest to regain her form and confidence.
In an interview with RTÉ Sport's John Kenny, McSharry expressed her excitement, stating, 'I'm really excited to swim fast.' She's aiming for her first long-course European medal in Paris, the city where she won Olympic bronze in the 100m breaststroke. Her recent silver in the same event in Rome further fuels her determination.
Despite initial reservations about another four-year commitment, McSharry finds herself back in the Olympic cycle, enjoying the training and seeing results. She qualified for the 2024 Olympics by dropping her 200m time to 2:22, a significant achievement. However, she struggled to maintain that form, which led to frustration.
Now, McSharry feels she's in a good place, ready to put together strong performances in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke. She believes her training for one event benefits the other, stating, 'For training purposes, I don't see myself focusing down on one. Training for the 100 helps the 200 and vice versa.'
Her training regimen has been intense, with limited racing this summer, focusing on hard training and pushing herself with teammates. McSharry's dedication is evident in her words, 'I've put in some really good work. I didn't really race a lot this summer... I've been really enjoying just putting some hard training in.'
As a seasoned member of the Team Ireland squad, McSharry is excited about the team's strength in depth, especially with the upcoming generation of swimmers. She sees this as a positive sign for Irish swimming, stating, 'Irish swimming is in a really good place. We definitely have some building to do for the next crew, but it's really exciting.'
In conclusion, McSharry's journey to Paris is a testament to her resilience and dedication. Her ability to balance training for multiple events and her positive outlook on the team's future make her a key player in Ireland's swimming success.
