Irish swimmer Ellie McCartney has claimed a bronze medal in the 200m Individual Medley on the final day of racing at the LEN European Junior Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
McCartney joins past Irish medallists Grainne Murphy, Sycerika McMahon, and Mona McSharry.
McCartney, who swims at National Centre Ulster and is a member of Ards Swimming, put in a personal best performance when it counted most, clocking 2:14.31. The 18-year-old from Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh had been fourth overall in the heats (2:16.48) and semi-final (2:14.93) but had the swim of her life to move up the rankings to third and claim her first international medal.
A delighted McCartney said ‘I’m speechless after tonight’s final, delighted to have earned a medal on the final race of my junior career, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coaches, teammates and parents.’
Great Britain’s Leah Schlosshan set a new Championship Record to claim gold in 2:12.41 with team-mate Phoebe Cooper taking silver in 2:13.28. In 2009 Grainne Murphy won gold in the event in 2:14.22.
Earlier today (July 9), Cora Rooney, Molly Mayne, Alana Burns-Atkin and Grace Davison combined for a time of 4:16.28 for fifteenth place overall in the Women’s 4x100, Medley Relay.
Many of the swimmers competing on the European Juniors team will compete again this Summer at either the LEN U23 Swimming Championships in Dublin, the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago or the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor, Slovenia.
Day 6 Results:
200m Individual Medley Ellie McCartney P 2:16.48 (4) SF 2:14.93 (4) F 2:14.31 (3)
Women 4 x 100m Medley Relay Ireland 4:16.28 (15)
