Walshe Ninth in IM to Conclude World Championships
Ellen Walshe was ninth and just outside the 400m Individual Medley Final, while Ireland’s men competed in the 4x100m Medley Relay on the final day of racing at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The Ireland team closed out the Championships with ten semi-final or equivalent top sixteen places, four finals and three Irish Records.
Walshe, already a two-time finalist in Singapore in the 200m Individual Medley and 200m Butterfly, was agonisingly close to a third Final, finishing fifth in her heat in her fastest ever morning swim in 4:38.72. Great Britain’s Freya Colbert secured the final place in 4:38.31, just four tenths of a second ahead of Walshe.
The Templeogue swimmer spoke after the race ‘I probably didn’t expect it to be so fast. and I think even when I touched the wall, I was surprised at my time, never mind coming in fifth, but, I’ll definitely take it on day eight, like I’ve had many swims in my system, so I think I said to the team this morning if I could even be 4:41 I’d be delighted, so I think to see a 4:38 on the board, I was pretty surprised’.
Reflecting on her Championships Walshe added ‘I’m delighted, I’ve had a quite successful worlds, I’ve made two finals, and I think to come ninth today, like, I’ll take it. There’s definitely loads of learnings to make as well.’
A team of John Shortt, Eoin Corby, Jack Cassin and Evan Bailey represented Ireland on the senior international team for the first time. The quartet, who all train together at National Centre Limerick, combined for a time of 3:37.56.
Shortt led the team with the Backstroke leg in 54.88 and said ‘The time wasn’t like particularly brilliant, but you know, the end of a long week and end of a long, I suppose, like month and a bit it’s just coming off the back European juniors as well, so, not the worst time I’ve ever had, but, just honestly so happy to be out there with the boys.’
Corby, who clocked 1:01.09 on the Breaststroke leg added ‘Yeah, it was good crack like John said, just to go out there at the lads and have a bit of fun was the main thing, and yeah, it’s definitely something we can build on the future’
Cassin, swimming the Butterfly leg, touched in 52.47, a great swim from the Cork man, who swam a lifetime best of 52.84 in the individual event on Friday. He said ‘I’m actually really happy with that so you know, as John said, it’s been a long week, and I didn’t really expect to be 52 again and especially to go over a second and a half what I’d usually do in a relay split. I’m honestly thrilled. I’m definitely going to look to try to go 52 lows by myself next season. So, I mean, it really, really helps me sort of get out of the zone because it’s much more of a team thing, whereas, you know, swimming is very individual, so when you get to do these team activities and like, a good relay, it’s so much fun.’
Bailey, who anchored the relay with a freestyle split of 49.02 added ‘It’s really nice to see like a refresh on the team, there are four new guys coming up and like it’s only up from here with the relay. Then as well, like all of us, if it’s our main focus for the 4×100 Medley in the future, we can definitely go a lot faster and work on that in the future. But today was just like good crack to get in, it’s like a really enjoyable race and I think you kind of need that just to up the spirit and get in with the lads and just enjoy the race so yeah, honestly, I’ve always wanted to anchor a relay for Ireland, so it was an amazing feeling and I’m really happy with it.’
Swim Ireland Team Leader John Szaranek reflected on the past eight days ‘As the World Aquatics Championships 2025 come to a close in Singapore, Team Ireland can be proud of their achievements across the eight days competition. Coming into the meet some of the athletes had to deal with injury, illness and disruption to their training. This did not deter the athletes who had an excellent holding camp in Malaysia, and they transferred that momentum into Singapore. Adversity was never far away, and illness was rife throughout the largest ever competitive field to assemble for a World Championships. The Irish athletes coped well with the circumstances and should be very proud of their performances across the meet.
Ellen Walshe had an excellent meet qualifying for the finals in both the 200 IM and 200 Butterfly, posting new Irish Senior Records in the process and then narrowly missed out on the final of the 400IM on the last day of a long meet. Olympic bronze medal winner Mona McSharry finished in eleventh position in the semifinal of the 100 Breaststroke having moved through the heats in first place. Mona demonstrated great resilience trying to deal with sickness through the meet. European Champion Danielle Hill who has been battling a shoulder injury and disruption to her training pool in Larne, progressed to the semifinal of the 50 Backstroke finishing in twelfth position. Making her World Championship debut, European Under 23 triple medallist Ellie McCartney had a great meet, qualifying for her first ever World final in the 200m Breaststroke where she finished seventh.’
‘The men also had a successful meet. Olympic Champion Daniel Wiffen came into the meet having suffered from a bout of appendicitis. This impacted on his preparation, but Daniel battled on reaching the final of the 800 Freestyle. Olympic semi-finalist Tom Fannon again progressed to the semi-final of the 50 Free where he placed twelfth. Shane Ryan competed in the 50 Butterfly and 50 Backstroke. Making his debut on the World level, Evan Bailey equalled the Irish Senior Record in the 200 Freestyle where he also qualified for the semi-final placing 16th. Despite being the youngest athlete on the team, double European Junior Champion John Shortt qualified for his second semifinal in a row at this level in the 200 Backstroke where he placed fifteenth. His teammate Jack Cassin swam two life-time best swims in the 100 and 200 Butterfly. European under 23 silver medal winner Eoin Corby narrowly missed progressing in his favoured event the 200 Breaststroke. There was also exposure at a world level for the 800 Free Relay of Bailey, Cormac Rynn, Cassin John Shortt. As one of the youngest quartet’s on show they gained great exposure at this level and will have a bright future in this event if they maintain their progress. The 400 medley relay team of Shortt, Corby, Cassin and Bailey also represented Ireland for the first time as a team of four. Similar to the Freestyle relay, they will have gained great experience and understanding of what they need to do to progress the event.
With four World Finals and ten top sixteen finishes it gives the athletes great momentum going into next season as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (for the Northern Irish athletes) and the European Championships in Paris.’
While most swimmers who competed in Singapore have now finished their season and will take a break ahead of the 2025/26 season, John Shortt, already a double European Junior Champion, still has one competition to go as he competes in the World Junior Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania from August 19th – 24th.
Next up, a team of over 40 Irish Masters swimmers will be in action at the World Masters Aquatics Championships in Singapore from August 7th – 14th while Ireland’s Para swimmers continue to train as they work towards the World Para Swimming Championships, also in Singapore from September 21st – 27th.
Results – Day 8 Sunday 3rd August
| Women 400m IM | Ellen Walshe | 4:38.72 (9th) |
| Men 4x100m Medley Relay | Ireland (John Shortt, Eoin Corby,
Jack Cassin, Evan Bailey) |
3:37.56 (21st) |
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