Irish Swimming Sensation, Sycerika McMahon, announced as Sportswoman of the Month

Irish Swimmer, Sycerika McMahonh as today been named The Irish Times / Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' for November. This is following her exceptional performance at this year's Irish Short Course Swimming Championships in France.

17-year-old McMahon from Portaferry, Co. Down won a total of eight national titles at the Irish Short Course Swimming Championships for the second year running. The London Olympian set a new Irish record in the 200m breaststroke knocking Fiona Doyle's 200m breaststroke time from the books as she won gold in (2:25.23) and she also set a new Irish senior record for the 200m individual medley (2:12.35). McMahon's first gold was in the 800m freestyle (8:50.86) and went on to win gold in the 100m breaststroke (1:08.30), 200m butterfly (2:13.71), 100m freestyle (56.07), 400m individual medley (4:47.80), and 200m freestyle (1:59.63).

McMahon is one of two swimming finalists in this year's awards; Bethany Firth, also from Down, won the August award for her gold medal success at the Paralympics. An impressive array of sports will be represented at the upcoming 'Sportswoman of the Year' Awards including: Athletics, showjumping, rugby, hockey, horse racing, boxing, golf, sailing, camogie and Gaelic football.

The accolade of winning the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' means Sycerika will be the twelfth and final person to be in the running for the prestigious title of 'Sportswoman of the Year' at the awards ceremony in December.