Longford’s Darragh Greene heading to Japan in July for the World Swimming Championships

Daniel Wiffen’s recent performances at the Stockholm Open see him as the current world leader in both the 1500m and 800m Freestyle, with his 1500m performance making him one of the four fastest men to ever compete over the distance. 

 Joining Darragh Greene and Wiffen on the Fukuoka-bound team will be Mona McSharry, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist, Ellen Walshe, a World short course Championships medallist and the exciting talent that is John Shortt, at only 16 years of age, recently wowing the crowd at the Irish Open Championships.

 Wiffen said, “Going into the World Championships, I’m definitely hoping to come out with a personal best and I think I can say after my swims at the weekend, being world ranked number one in the 1500m Freestyle, that I would be a World Championship medal hopeful. I guess that as a medal has never been won by an Irish athlete at a World Long Course Championships that I’d like to be the first to do that. I’m really looking forward to the team that’s going to Fukuoka, it’s going to be a great pre-camp and a big team will definitely boost the atmosphere and we’ll all be ready to race fast in Japan.’

 The team for Fukuoka consists of 7 men and 5 women, with six of the team making a World Championships debut, two of whom are making their first ever senior National Team appearance for their nation. Ireland will also enter teams into three key relay events in Japan - the Male and Female 400m Medley Relays and the Female 400m Freestyle relay, with this Championships providing one of only two opportunities by which nations can qualify relays for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Jon Rudd, Swim Ireland’s Performance Director believes that Irish swimming is in a very good place for a productive summer this year. “We had a very successful and uplifting trials at the Irish Open Championships in Dublin this month and to be able to name such a long list of athletes to our National Teams this summer is extremely pleasing and encouraging.

“The World Championships is an important step in qualifying for and preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and we have a number of names on that roster who can make it through the rounds of racing and feature in the finals where the medals are decided. That is really something to look forward to. 

“When we get to July and August, it won’t be long until the second Olympic qualification event is upon us, the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in February.”