SWIMMING Burdis Blasts 50m Backstroke

Nineteen-year old Dubliner Karl Burdis won his heat of the 50m backstroke this morning in a new personal best and Irish Senior record time of 25.40, at the World Swimming Championships in Rome.

The University of Minnesota student from Donaghmede attacked the race from the start, looking strong throughout and holding a high body position in the water. His new Irish record time is 0.23 quicker than he swam 4 weeks ago at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Unfortunately his finishing time was not fast enough to qualify him through to tonight's semi-final and he finished in 28th position overall.

Speaking after the race Burdis said "25.4 is a very good time for me - it's a best time and an Irish record so there's not much more I can ask for. I now have 1 more swim to go and that's on the relay [4x100m medley] tomorrow. It should be fun and we've a chance of lowering the record as well."

The Irish women's 4x100m medley quartet of Aisling Cooney, Fiona Doyle, Grainne Murphy and Clare Dawson swam their way to a new Irish Senior record of 4.12.67, taking over 7 seconds off the previous mark.

Other Irish results today are: Clare Dawson 50m freestyle, new personal best time of 26.20. Fiona Doyle went in the same event finishing in 26.38. Donal O'Neill finished in 26.29 in the 50m backstroke.

Irish swimmers in action tomorrow on the final day of competition are Grainne Murphy and Nuala Murphy (400m Individual Medley) and the Irish Men's 4x100, medley team relay.

There will be no further correspondence today. The next correspondence will be tomorrow morning.

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