SWIMMING Mixed Day for Irish Swimming Team

Ireland had a mixed day of performances today on day 5 of competition at the World Swimming Championships in Rome, Italy. 21-year old Clare Dawson swam her way to a new Irish Senior Record in the women's 100m freestyle, in 56.32. In the same heat, Fiona Doyle clocked 56.96 - 0.39 seconds off her best time which she recorded earlier in the week on the lead off leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay.


The women's 4x200m freestyle team relay made up of Melanie Nocher, Clare Dawson, Niamh O'Sullivan and Nuala Murphy smashed the Irish Senior record (which was previously 8.18.31) to finish in 8.09.34 and 15th place overall. The quartet's performance was an example of what we may see in the future with regards to strong Irish relay squads.


Double Olympian Andrew Bree was in action in his premier event, the men's 200m breaststroke and finished in 2.12.90 - almost 3 seconds outside of his best and Irish record performance which he swam during his semi-final at the Olympic Games last year in Beijing.


"That wasn't my best performance out there, It just didn't feel right from the start and felt a little too choppy. I'm going to go back now and analyse the race with my coaches and see what I need to do to get back down to my best again," said Bree after the race. "We've a team of 13 swimmers who've all been swimming really well so far. I'm going to get back out there and get behind the other swimmers who have more races to come here in Rome."


Also in action today was Irish Senior record holder Karl Burdis, who finished his heat of the men's 200m backstroke in 2.04.34.


Irish swimmers in action tomorrow are Barry Murphy and Conor Leaney (50m freestyle), Conor Leaney (100m butterfly), Melanie Nocher (200m backstroke) and Grainne Murphy and Nuala Murphy (800m freestyle).

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