Clare Cryan wins Ireland’s first diving medal at European championships

It is Ireland’s first ever diving medal at a senior Europeans. The 30-year-old achieved her podium finish with a score of 240.55.

The bronze medal is only the third international diving medal across all senior events and Cryan won it in style with a score of 240.55, her best score coming from a back 2 ½ somersaults for 58.80 points.

Speaking after the final, Sheffield-born Cryan said: “Honestly, I am lost for words, I didn’t know I was in contention for the medals.

“Throughout the competition I just kept my head down, I don’t really like to look at the scores or table going through, so I had no idea going into the last dive. It wasn’t my best last dive; it was enough to get the bronze which I’m so happy about.”

Cryan added: “It’s all just so much right now! I’ve been diving for 21 years, I medalled at the 2018 Grand Prix, that was Ireland’s first international diving medal, to have such a long time without standing on the podium and hitting personal bests, it is just amazing.

“The support is absolutely amazing. Both my family and Ciara’s (McGing who also competed in the diving event) family have followed us around the world, we are so lucky.

“It makes all the difference to know that the ones who helped me in the early days, giving me the lifts to the pool, looking after me when I was upset, that they could be here today was amazing.”

Great Britain's Desharne Bent-Ashmeil secured the gold medal (305.15) with Norway’s Helle Tuxen taking silver (243.20).

Meanwhile, Ireland will have two swimmers in Saturday night’s 100m backstroke final in the Serbian capital.

Fresh from her gold medal winning performance in the 50m backstroke, Danielle Hill was back in action in the 100m backstroke, her Olympic event.

Hill clocked 1.00.54 in the semi-final and progressed as the second-fastest qualifier. Lottie Cullen was fourth in her semi-final in 1:01.19 to make the final as well.

Ellie McCartney began a busy evening with an eighth-place finish in the 200m breaststroke final. The Limerick swimmer touched the wall in 2:28.58 seconds.

McCartney didn't have much time to get a breather; she was back in action in the 200m medley semi-final and took eighth in 2:14.37 to reach another final.

Conor Ferguson was sixth in the 50m backstroke final, in 24.87. Ferguson returns on Saturday for the 100m backstroke.

Nathan Wiffen is safely through to the final of the men's 1500m freestyle on Saturday evening (6.22pm). The 21-year-old advanced fourth quickest with a time 15:10.01

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has announced that swimming and athletics will swap places in the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Athletics traditionally follows the action in the pool but will be up first in four years' time, except for the marathon races, which will remain at the end of the Games.