SWIMMING Murphy Becomes Triple Golden Girl

Irish swimming sensation Grainne Murphy has claimed her third gold medal today at the European Junior Swimming Championships, when she touched the wall in first place in the 200m Individual Medley in 2.14.22. The sixteen year old girl from Ballinaboola, New Ross broke the European Junior Record in the semi-finals of the event yesterday, in 2.14.15. Murphy now makes it a hat trick - having won gold in the 400m IM and 800m earlier in the week, as well as bronze for the 1500m freestyle.

"This was the toughest out of all her races to win, as the competition was closest in this event. It was a good challenge for Grainne today to get up and race but she did absolutely fantastic," commented Ronald Claes, who coaches Murphy full time at the Limerick High Performance Centre (University of Limerick).
"We really need the Irish Sports Council (ISC) to keep investing in and supporting Irish swimming because swimming in Ireland is on the move upwards. I hope that the ISC will continue to focus on swimming as one of the key sports for the Olympic Games."

Describing her race afterwards, Murphy said "The race felt really strong, my butterfly leg was good and my stroke rate on my breaststroke was really high - which was what I was looking for. I expected the British girl to come back on the breaststroke and I knew the Italian girl was going to go out strong too." She added "I don't think it has really sunk in yet that I've won 3 golds and a bronze this week but I'm really thrilled."

Murphy will travel to Italy tomorrow to join the twelve other Irish swimmers for a training camp before the World Championships in Rome in two weeks' time.

Ireland's top age-group swimmers were in action today at the National Aquatic Centre, on the final day of the Irish National Age-Group Championships. Conor Turner (Aer Lingus Swimming Club) won the boys under fifteen 1500m freestyle in 17.12.74, thirty-three seconds ahead of second place Jack Keogh (Galway Swimming Club). The fifteen year old teenager from Dublin also had a stellar performance in the 200m freestyle final, finishing in 2.00.48. Turner will represent Ireland this summer at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Finland.

Fourteen year-old Grace Brannagan (Templeogue Swimming Club) took the girls under fourteen 200m backstroke title, winning it in a quick 2.25.32.
The boys under fifteen 100m breaststroke was a close race, with a tight finish between Limerick's Peter Clarke and Larne's Mark Wylie. Clarke got the touch in a time of 1.09.23 with Wylie finishing in 1.09.43.

Dayna Clegg (Templeogue Swimming Club) stormed her way to a National title in the girls under fourteen 200m freestyle final, winning it in 2.11.44. Second place went to Grace Barnnagan also from Templeogue, in 2.14.54 with third place going to Cormorant's Alannah Griffin who clocked 2.16.36.

For further information contact:

Chantal Gibney, Swim Ireland
Ph: 086 3817933
Email: edo2@swimireland.ie