Triple Medal Glory for McMahon at 2011 European Junior Swimming Championships

10 Jul 2011


Leander swimmer Sycerika McMahon has won yet another medal at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, her third of these championships. It was a silver medal today, in the final of the 200m Freestyle, setting a new Irish Junior Record in the process.


McMahon had withdrawn from all her events this morning in an attempt to rest and prepare as best as possible for this evening's final. This proved a correct tactic, as she swam a fantastic time of 2:00.61 in the final, a new personal best, to finish just behind Russian Ksenia Yuskova, the Gold Medalist, who touched the wall in 2:00.50. Bronze went to Dutch swimmer Esmee Vermeulen (2:01.22).


Speaking from Pool side, Coach Bobby Madine commented on a fantastic week for the Leander star. "It is a great achievement for Sycerika to finish these championships with another medal. She is a tough competitor and has a passion and drive for success that has seen her perform so well this week." The future is bright for young McMahon, who now prepares to depart for Shanghai, China for the World Championships at the end of this month.


Mayo native Nicholas Quinn (Castlebar SC) continued his fine form in today's 100m Breaststroke heats. Quinn, who has performed strongly all week, set a new personal best time of 1:04.80 and qualified for the semi-final.


In the semi-final, Quinn struggled to keep pace with the rest of the strong field, finishing in 16th place in a time of 1:05.11. Favourite for the title is British swimmer Craig Benson, who won the semi-final in an impressive time of 1:02.61. Quinn will swim in the 400m Individual Medley tomorrow, his last event of this week.


Three other Irish boy's also competed in the 100m Breaststroke heats. Peter Clarke (Limerick SC & HPC-UL) finished in a time of 1:06.62; Dan Sweeney (Sunday's Well SC) touched in 1:06.73 and Philip Duffy (St Paul's SC) was just outside his best in 1:08.70. Duffy also competed in the 100m Butterfly heats, finishing with a time of 56.43.


Also in action today at the Tasmajdan Swimming Complex was Aer Lingus SC swimmer Conor Turner, who swam a season best time of 8:27.03 in the 800m Freestyle. The event was won by Turkish swimmer Ediz Yildirimer in a time of 8:00.82.


Jane Roberts, of Kilkenny SC, has impressed all week and ended her involvement in this year's Championships with a time of 1:05.74 in the 100m Backstroke heats. Roberts did not progress to the semi-finals, but can be proud of her achievements this week.


Tomorrow (Sunday) is the final day of competition in Belgrade. The highlight will be the Boy's 4 x 100m Medley Relay, where the Irish quartet will be looking for a third successive Irish Record this week. Heats begin at 08.00hrs (Irish time) and semi-finals/finals start at 16:00hrs on each day of competition.

 

Full Irish Results - Day 4

  • Peter Clarke (Limerick SC & HPC-UL) M100BR 1:06.62
  • Philip Duffy (St Pauls SC) M100BR 1:08.70; M100BF 56.43
  • Nicholas Quinn (Castlebar SC) M100BR 1:04.80 (H) (PB) 1:05.11 (SF)
  • Sycerika McMahon (Leander SC) W200FR 2:00.61 (F) (PB)
  • Jane Roberts (Kilkenny SC) W100BK 1:05.74
  • Dan Sweeney (Sunday's Well SC) M100BR 1:06.73
  • Conor Turner (Aer Lingus SC) M800FR 8:27.03

 


Issued by Swim Ireland, whose High Performance Programme is supported and funded by the Irish Sports Council