Walshe Fifth and Sixth and Wiffen Eighth in World Finals

Ellen Walshe ended her World Championships with fifth and sixth place Finals finishes, Nathan Wiffen secured a top eight World placing and 50m Backstroke bronze medallist Shane Ryan closed out his Championships in the 50m Freestyle Semi-Final on the penultimate night of racing at the World Aquatics Championships (SC) in Budapest.

Walshe will leave Budapest with eight Irish Records in the 50m and 100m Butterfly and 100m and 200m IM, and top 10 placings in the 200m IM (5^th), 400m IM (5^th), 100m Butterfly (6^th) and 100m IM (9^th) after an impressive week of racing.

On Saturday, the Templeogue swimmer swam a finals double, placing sixth in the 100m Butterfly in 55.68, just outside her new Irish Record of 55.50 from the semi-final, an hour later she was back for the 400m IM where she touched fifth in 4:29.86.

Speaking after her races Walshe said ‘I’m happy enough, I knew tonight would be tough with a lot of fatigue in my legs, but happy to come away with fifth and sixth in each of the events.’

Asked about her impressive week she added ‘I can’t really remember right now! I’m definitely feeling it but yeah, I’ve had a great week, and I couldn’t have probably asked for more, it’s a pity there wasn’t a bit more in the 400 (IM) but considering the week that I’ve had, I can’t really expect much more.’ 

Nathan Wiffen confirmed his first top eight world placing in his first World Championships in the 800m Freestyle fastest heat. Wiffen was just off his personal best of 7:34.78 clocking 7:35.92 to finish fifth in the heat and eighth overall.

The 23-year-old Loughborough swimmer spoke after his race ‘I was a bit over my time, but last race of the short course season for me and I’m happy enough I’ve come away from the competition with a pb in the 1500 (Freestyle), it was a bit unexpected, and I think yeah overall I’m pretty happy.’ 

Shane Ryan closed out his week with his second fastest ever swim in the 50m Freestyle Semi-Finals. Ryan, who won 50m Backstroke Bronze on Friday, had secured the Semi-Final place in a new Irish Record of 21.07. In the first semi-final tonight, he clocked 21.28 for eighth place.

Ryan returns to Ireland with a bronze medal and three new Irish Records in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke.

Commenting after the race he said  ‘Tonight I swam it a bit different, I tried to be a bit more aggressive but then you slip and  I’m not really an aggressive type of person, I’m big and I like gripping the water a bit more so I think I need to use my strengths, but hey it’s a 50, so it was fun and great to make it to the Semi-Final.’

On his overall World Championships he added ‘I came in with not a lot of race experience for the year, I had a goal you know set, trying to be faster and faster and faster and I’m in some of the best shape of my life at the moment, I’m going pbs and I’m going to try and continue this over the Christmas and gear up for Singapore (World Championships) in the Summer.  I have a really good mentality right now and I’m happy, so yeah, it’s great.’

On Sunday, the final day of competition in Budapest, Evan Bailey and Lottie Cullen make their World Championship debuts in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Backstroke respectively. John Shortt returns for the 200m Backstroke having set a new Irish Junior Record in the 100m Backstroke earlier in the week. The 17-year-old is the Irish Record holder in the event having lowered his own record of 1:54.02 to 1:52.62 last month.

Day 5 Heats/Finals Results – Saturday 14^th December

Day 6 Heats Schedule – Saturday 14^th December

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