Ireland opened the European Aquatics Championships in Paris with a standout evening performance from Jack Kelly, who twice lowered the Irish 100m Breaststroke record to book his place in Tuesday’s final, while Lottie Cullen also delivered a personal best in the 200m Backstroke semi-final.
Ireland’s Jack Kelly made himself known on the European stage this evening as the 23-year-old secured a place in the 100m Breaststroke final in a blistering 58.90, going under 59 seconds for the first time and taking another .37 of a second off the Irish Record of 59.27 that he set in this morning’s heats.
The Ireland debutant advances in second place to the Final after finishing second in his semi-final to Italy’s 2024 Olympic Champion Nicolo Martinenghi in 58.67. The second semi-final was won by Great Britain’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty, who won silver at Paris 2024, in 58.94, the only other swimmer under the fifty-nine second mark.
A delighted Kelly spoke after the race ‘I feel amazing, to go under 59 has always been a dream of mine and to actually see it on the board is just like ‘wow’. It’s been an awesome start to the meet and I’m excited to see what I what I do next.’
‘It was exciting, the energy was there and to feed off it was what I did, it’s been a really cool environment. I can hear the guys, they’ve been very supportive, we’re very close and I couldn’t wish for better teammates; the environment is great and something that is really cool to be part of.’
‘Tomorrow I’m going to take it out and go full throttle, that’s my thing in the 100 and see what I got.’
The 100m Breaststroke final will take place on Tuesday at 17:48 Irish time.
Lottie Cullen swam a personal best as she moved from sixteenth this morning to the twelfth fastest European in the 200m Backstroke semi-final. The National Centre Ulster swimmer finished sixth in her semi-final in 2:12.22, a personal best by one hundredth of a second.
Cullen spoke after her race ‘I’m really happy with that. I’ve done a few of these (200m Backs) in the last few weeks, so just trying to improve something each time and to get that slight personal best, I’m happy with that. I was really tired coming off the back of Commonwealths, I knew I had more in the tank after that swim this morning, so I’m really happy to put up that time tonight. I’ve got a relay tomorrow, then a 50 and 100, so I’m excited to get the long one out of the way.’
On Tuesday, Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen returns for the heats of the 800m Freestyle, joined by twin brother Nathan Wiffen and newly minted 400m Individual Medley Irish record holder Liam Custer. Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry begins her Championships campaign in the heats of the 100m Breaststroke, alongside Commonwealth Games 200m Breaststroke bronze medallist Ellie McCartney. European short course champions John Shortt and Ellen Walshe will also be in action in the 200m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly respectively. While Shortt contests his primary event, Walshe uses the sprint butterfly as preparation for her main event, the 400m Individual Medley, on Wednesday. Alana Burns-Atkin and Rosalie Phelan will join Walshe in the 50m Butterfly, while Evan Bailey and Matthew Hamilton return to the pool for the 100m Freestyle. Ireland will also be represented in the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay, with the line-up to be confirmed on Tuesday morning.