Mona McSharry admitted to being "gutted" after coming in fifth in the final of the 100m breaststroke, her preferred event, at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha on Tuesday, but she was much happier with an equal placing in the 200m breaststroke final Friday.
"It's gone really well, this is the first time it's really starting to click. Not the time I wanted, but I think I'm racing it properly now and kind of figuring out the right way to do it and I guess it's just practice," said the Sligo swimmer after clocking a time of 2:24.89.
That time was 1.95 seconds outside of a medal and almost a second outside the Olympic qualifying mark — a less painful interval than the half second separating her from bronze on Tuesday.
𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 | 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧
Another World Champs Final for Mona McSharry and another 5th place finish in 2:24.89
The Sligo swimmer has had a busy week in Doha, and she’s not finished yet, she will return to the blocks tomorrow for the 50 Breast#AQUADoha2024 pic.twitter.com/Qpk4h1xJPp— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) February 16, 2024
Tes Schouten of the Netherlands claimed gold in 22:19.81 after slicing .02 seconds off her own Dutch record in the semi-finals. American Kate Douglass took second with Canadian Sydney Pickrem nabbing third.
McSharry swims in the heats of the 50m breaststroke, for which she holds the Irish record, on Saturday morning.
"I think it will be fun," said the 23-year-old of her last event. "It's definitely going to be a tough turnaround to go straight back into it tomorrow morning but it's nice to finish on a 50m, one length, just splash and dash."
Also competing on Saturday is Erin Riordan in the 50m freestyle.
