Ireland’s John Shortt Secures European Gold in New World Junior Record

Ireland’s John Shortt has been crowned European 200m Backstroke Champion at the European Aquatics Championships in Poland on Wednesday night. In winning his first senior international medal, the 2025 European and World Junior Champion set a new World Junior Record, European Junior Record and Championship Record of 1:47.89, breaking Russian Kliment Kolesnikov’s 2017 standard of 1:48.02. It’s also the third time in two days that Shortt has broken his Irish Senior and Junior Record starting with 1:50.65 in the heats and then 1:48.84 in the semi-final.

The 18-year-old raced a phenomenal race, battling France’s Mewen Tomac throughout. It was at the 150-metre mark that Shortt made the move to overtake Tomac, touching home .73 of a second ahead of the Frenchman who clocked 1:48.62. Czech’s Jan Cejka claimed bronze in 1:49.43.

An emotional Shortt spoke after the race ‘Just really proud, you know. I’d be a massive liar if I said I didn’t think I had that in me. I honestly didn’t really think I was going to lose that. I just felt something last night, where I just felt unbeatable and, you know, now it’s just pride, it’s just washing over me now and I just honestly can’t believe it, it’s amazing.’

He continued ‘I’ve won medals in the past before, but that’s at junior level and now I’m with the big boys and I don’t know, I stood with my heart on my sleeve, you know, I’m a passionate person, I’m so passionate for this flag that’s wrapped around me, I mean, the people that have come and gone in this sport, I’m just doing it for them really, and doing it for the people back home who aren’t here and, you know, I’m just so proud, like it’s the only word I can describe is just to be proud of wearing this flag and repping the flag in the pool on the hat as well.’

 

After receiving his medal Shortt and hearing the Irish National anthem ring out around the stadium added ‘I absolutely love that national anthem, it gives me chills every single time. I’m proud to be standing there as an Irishman with a gold medal around my neck, singing the national anthem. The beauty of Irish swimming is that it doesn’t matter where we come from, it does not matter. We are all under the same flag and to share this moment with them is something that I will take forward for the rest of the season and the rest of my career.’

 

Shortt returns to race on Thursday morning in the 100m Backstroke heats.

Shortt’s race was followed by two outstanding semi-final swims from Ellen Walshe and Evan Bailey, with both securing places in Thursday’s Finals.

Walshe, who had set a new Irish Record of 58.80 in this morning’s heats of the 100m Individual Medley, bettered that time to 58.19 in the first semi-final, placing third and advances in fifth overall.

Walshe spoke after the race ‘I knew I was going to have to put in a big performance, obviously for Shortty (John Shortt), Evan and Ellie who did fantastic beforehand, so it’s a bit of pressure on tonight. I’m going to have to find some sprinting feet tomorrow because that’s a pretty quick final. I think the IM has moved on as well, it just all becomes a sprint. I think to be back in the 100s is a bit of a surprise for me, but I’ll take my opportunity tomorrow and hopefully enjoy it.’

On being a mentor to the next generation of swimmers on the team Walshe said ‘I guess I didn’t feel like I had it when I moved into senior and I think, you got to be there for the younger ones and they’re coming through like making finals. I guess Ellie making finals at worlds and stuff. It’s a massive step in her career and to see them back in finals tonight in very capable lanes, it’s a huge deal and it’s great to see them coming in from junior into senior very confidently themselves.’

Evan Bailey was a man on a mission in the 200m Freestyle, after witnessing Shortt’s swim, the National Centre (Limerick) swimmer tore through the pool in 1:42.01, breaking the Irish Record of 1:42.68 he had set in the heats. Bailey, who had progressed from the heats in thirteenth overall, was third is his semi-final and ranks seventh for Thursday’s Final.

A delighted Bailey said ‘I’m really happy with that, it was a good swim this morning but there were a few things that me and my coach worked on to find out where those fine margins could be fixed, it worked well for me. I was watching John (Shortt) while I did my warm-up on the screen, there’s no better warm-up than watching your teammate break a world junior record on this stage, it’s just an incredible feeling.’

On the team performances so far, he said ‘I mean, yeah, it’s crazy. The first day to see the times that everyone is doing. I personally didn’t have a main event the first day, just 50 fly, but getting to see all my teammates doing those crazy times, it’s kind of just like I sit there smiling. Yeah, I have the confidence now to go out and do well. I know I’m going to do it because they’ve all done it too, so it’s an amazing feeling.’

In the 100m Breaststroke Final, Ellie McCartney clocked 1:05.25 to place eighth overall. The European U23 Champion in the 200m Individual Medley still has that event to come and the 200m Breaststroke which she races on Thursday morning.

The 20-year-old spoke after the Final ‘I’m really happy I’ve never made a past the heats in a senior international, so to make it the final, it was unexpected, I’ll take it any day. I’m really excited for the 200m Breaststroke, I think the guys in our training group, like they’ve been in phenomenal watching John just go tear things up. I think it gives a lot of us confidence that the training we’re doing is working and hopefully it could be confidence into tomorrow.’

On Shortt’s medal she added ‘I was beaming, it really took my breath away, you know, working with him, training with him, we’re housemates as well. So, yeah, it’s just something so happy to see.’

Also on Thursday, Jack Cassin and Matthew Hamilton compete in the 100m Butterfly. Eoin Corby swims the 100m Breaststroke Heats while 400m Freestyle bronze medallist Daniel Wiffen returns in the evening for the Final of the 1500m Freestyle.

Competition continues tomorrow through to Sunday. Press releases will be issue twice daily.

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