Shane Ryan to become three-time Olympian but misses out on individual race as Ireland team named

Ryan set an Irish 50m freestyle record of 21.82 at the European Championships in Belgrade last month, inside the Olympic qualification standard of 21.96 but outside Swim Ireland’s qualification window for Paris.

Swim Ireland declined to waive their policy, but Ryan is selected to swim the freestyle leg in the men’s medley relay squad together with Conor Ferguson (backstroke), Darragh Greene (breaststroke) and Max McCusker (butterfly)

Tom Fannon will compete for Ireland in the 50m freestyle. He has a personal best time of 21.94, which he set at the Irish National Championships that doubled as final trials for Paris, and he subsequently matched that time at a meeting in Rome.

But 30-year-old Ryan, who had a personal best of 22.6, sliced 0.8 off Fannon’s time at the European Championships with his new Irish record of 21.82 in his first race over the distance in a couple of years.

Irish swimmers had three opportunities to qualify for the Games: the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, the 2024 World Championships in Doha as well as the Irish Championships in May.

Ireland are sending a record 12 swimmers to Paris, as well as two divers after Ciara McGing secured a late quota spot. Included in the team are two women’s relay squads who compete in the 400m medley and freestyle relays.

Daniel Wiffen, the current 800m and 1500m world champion – who has also entered the 10km open swim – is Ireland’s leading medal prospect in the pool. The competition will be held in the Paris La Défense Arena July 27-August 4.

“I’ve just finished a great block of training now and am looking forward to the final taper before travelling out with the team. It’s especially exciting to be going to Paris with such a big team – all the work has been done and we are ready to get out there and perform to our best,” said Wiffen.

Jon Rudd, Performance Director with Swim Ireland, and Team Leader for the aquatics section of Team Ireland, said,

“The largest team and the most competitive team ever, says it all. These athletes have been progressing, gaining confidence, and delivering in key moments ever since we said farewell to Tokyo. We have numerous athletes here that sit amongst the very best in their events on a worldwide basis and there isn’t a swimming or a diving day that anyone can afford to miss.

“Our individual-event athletes are all high performers in the truest sense and our three relays are at full strength. It’s a real pleasure to be able to name twelve swimmers to this team and to also add Ciara to the diving team alongside Jake.”

TEAM IRELAND AQUATICS TEAM FOR PARIS OLYMPICS.

Swimming:

Victoria Catterson (National Centre, Dublin), Female 400m, Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

Grace Davison (Ards SC), Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

Tom Fannon (National Centre, Dublin), Male 50m Freestyle

Conor Ferguson (Loughborough University), Male 400m Medley Relay

Darragh Greene (National Centre, Dublin), Male 400m Medley Relay

Danielle Hill (Larne SC), Female 100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay

Max McCusker (Millfield School, England), Male 400m Medley Relay

Mona McSharry (University of Tennessee), Female 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke, 400m Medley Relay

Erin Riordan (National Centre, Dublin), Female 400m Freestyle Relay, 400m Medley Relay (*)

Shane Ryan (National Centre, Dublin), Male 400m Medley Relay

Ellen Walshe (Templeogue SC), Female 100m Butterfly, 200m IM, 400m IM & 400m Medley Relay

Daniel Wiffen (Loughborough University), Male 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle & Open Water 10km

(*) – TBC following Female 400m Freestyle Relay

Diving

Ciara McGing (Ohio State University) Female 10m Platform

Jake Passmore (City of Leeds) Male 3m Springboard.