Davison Storms into Semi-Final; Hanley Closes Out Week in Stunning Fashion

Day four of the 2025 European Aquatics Championships continued with another busy morning for Irish swimmers including a standout swim from Grace Davison in the 100m Freestyle, ensuring she will join John Shortt (200m Backstroke Final) in action this evening. 

Davison was the first Irish swimmer to race on Friday morning in Samorin, competing in the 100m Freestyle. The Paris Olympian got the day started in blistering fashion, winning her heat, and advancing second overall to the semi-final with a time of 55.35, just .26 shy of her lifetime best.  

Speaking in the mixed zone, Davison said: “I’m really happy, it’s really nice to go that time, it’s my fastest time this year by at least half of a second and I feel like I’ve got a lot of room for improvement for tonight. The 200m Freestyle was bittersweet, it was my first personal best for over a year, I was so happy but to narrowly miss out on the final, it hurts a little, but it’s given me more time to rest. I think we can see the freestyle event is so much more competitive than last year, so it’s spurring me on.” 

The Ards swimmer, who is competing at her fourth European Junior Championships added: “This is my fourth (European Junior) championships, and I know for a lot of the team this year, it’s their first year, so I feel a bit of responsibility as I’m here with the most times. The team has been so good, a few of the younger guys will come and speak to me if they’re struggling, so that’s nice to know they trust me. Usually, I’m the youngest one so I understand what that’s like, even in Paris I was the youngest by a long way and the girls helped me so much, so they’ve kind of passed on that role to me, which is nice.” 

Davison, who is the 2024 European Junior bronze medalist in this event will return to the blocks tonight for the semi-final due to get underway at 5:06pm (Irish time).  

A swimmer who has announced his arrival on the Irish national team scene this week is Phelim Hanley. The Cork man was back on the blocks this morning for the 400m Individual Medley. The 17-year-old, who is eligible again in 2026 for European Juniors, had set personal bests in his three previous event this week, and did it again for a fourth consecutive day, shattering his previous best (4:39.77) by eight seconds. The Blackrock swimmer touched the wall first in 4:31.38 to win his heat and round off his week in the pool in impressive fashion.  

Following the race, Hanley said: “I’m actually buzzing, I’ve done well all week, and I’ve been really happy, but this is the happiest I’ve felt because I was really nervous before that. The team here is great, I can’t put it into words, they have been encouraging me the whole time, always egging us on, it’s such a positive attitude around the Irish team, it’s really nice.”  

Speaking on the support he added: “My mam, dad and coach are here, and they are giving it their all. My mam said she was going to pass out in the breaststroke event from whistling. The support here is the difference between performing and loving it, you could do it just to get a personal best or you could do it to make the people proud.” 

Tadhg O’Brien and Denis O’Brien closed out the morning for Ireland, both competing in the 800m Freestyle. Dolphin swimmer Tadgh O’Brien was first on the blocks, coming through the race in 8:36.12 to set a new lifetime best, breaking his previous best of 8:38.41 set last summer.  

Shortly after, Denis O’Brien took to the blocks, the National Centre (Limerick) man, who is competing at his second European Junior Championships, went 8:25.99, just over a second shy of his personal best to place third in his heat. 

Following the race, O’Brien said: “I feel good, I’m happy with the swim, would have liked to be a bit faster but given the conditions, I’m happy to race with the Ireland gear on against some top swimmers. It means everything, training all year around, just to get a swim at these competitions, it means a lot to stand up with the green jacket, hat on and represent your country on the international stage.” 

Following the 1500m Freestyle on Tuesday, Clare Custer was back in action this morning in the 800m Freestyle. 17-year-old Custer, who is competing at her first international competition, clocked 8:59.21 to place third in her heat and within the top twenty overall. 

For the first time this week and Irish relay team headed to the blocks for the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay. A youthful quartet consisting of Adeline Cloutier, Niamh Connery, Luca Power, and Matthew Hamilton clocked a combined time of 4:03.30.  

Tonight, will see Grace Davison and John Shortt return to the pool for the 100m Freestyle Semi-Final and 200m Backstroke Final, respectively.  

European Aquatics Junior Championships Day 4 Heats Results 

 

Women 100m Freestyle                       Grace Davison, 55.35 (2) 

Men 400 IM                                                     Phelim Hanley, 4:31.38 (PB) 

Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay                Ireland, 4:03.30 

Women 800m Freestyle                      Clare Custer, 8:59.21 

Men 800m Freestyle                              Denis O’Brien 8:25.99, Tadhg O’Brien 8:36.12 (PB) 

European Aquatics Junior Championships Day 4 Finals Schedule 

Women 100m Freestyle Semi-Final – Grace Davison, 5:06pm (IRL) 

Men 200m Backstroke Final – John Shortt, 5:58pm (IRL)  

 

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