A month ahead of the World Championships in Qatar (though we're told she'll be skipping that event to keep training for Paris), Ellen Walshe is collecting gold after gold with apparent ease at the Flanders Swimming Cup in Antwerp, Belgium.
18 Irish swimmers are competing at the meet, recognized as an international qualifier and the first competition of 2024 for many swimmers.
Dubliner Walshe had a packed schedule on the first night of the event, swimming in (and winning) three finals.
Walshe , who trains full time in the club program in Templeogue, won the 100m fly in 1:00.57, and the 200m IM in 2:13.47, both well ahead of the field.
Teammates Ellie McCartney and Grace Davison ensured the 200m IM podium would a sweep for Ireland with respective times of 2:15.79 and 2:17.91.
Walshe's 56.71 opener also contributed to Ireland women's victory in the 400m free relay, with Grace Davison (57.37), Maria Godden (57.26), and Victoria Catterson (57.39) closing it out.
Day 2 saw more victories for 22-year-old Walshe as she swam the only sub-27 second time in the 50m fly, winning in 26.82.
She once more collected gold in the 400m IM, in 4:42.85 — 10 seconds ahead of the field, and about 3 seconds off of Michele Smith's still-standing Irish record, set in 1996.
Other Irish athletes have also starred at the cup, with Maria Godden medalling in the 200m backstroke, Niamh Coyne and Ellie McCartney taking gold and silver in the 100m breast, and Victoria Catterson winning the 100m free.
