Mona McSharry fifth in 100m breaststroke final at World Aquatic championships
Ireland's Mona McSharry after finishing fifth in the women's 100 metres breaststroke final during day three of the World Aquatics Championships 2024 at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar. Photo: Ian MacNicol/Sportsfile
There was no medal joy for Sligo’s Mona McSharry in the 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatic championships in Doha.
She finished fifth in a race dominated by the winner Tang Qianting from China.
The 23-year Sligo swimmer also finished fifth in the same event at last year’s World championships in Japan.
Tang took the gold medal in 1:05.27. McSharry who briefly held fourth spot in the second half of the race was timed at 1.06.42 slower than her semi-final time of 1:06.11 and her personal best of 1.05.55.
"I just felt like I was there, within my reach, I just didn’t have it today and that’s really tough to deal with, just back to the drawing board and keep working, I guess,” she said.
"I think, the most important thing is not coming away from this distraught or disheartened, and trying to use it to my advantage rather than thinking I’m not capable, and that’s probably going to be the hardest part.”
McSharry returns to the pool on Thursday for the heats of the 200m breaststroke where she will be seeking to secure an Olympic qualification time of 2:23.91.
Tes Schouten (Netherland) and Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong) were second and third respectively in 1:05.82 and 1.05.92.
Haughey, a double medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, is a grand-niece of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.
McSharry, meanwhile, was bidding to become the first Irish swimmer to win a medal at the long course (50m) World championships.
Ireland will have another opportunity to achieve that breakthrough when Daniel Wiffen, the world short course record holder over the distance swims in the 800m final in Doha on Wednesday.
