There’s no need to downplay it any longer. Mona McSharry has solidified her place in Monday’s Olympic 100 metres breaststroke final thanks to two remarkable swims. She trumps several of the all-time greats in the event, ranking as the second fastest overall.
No doubt fuelled by the fervid encouragement from the spectators at the Paris La Défense Arena, the Sligo-based swimmer reprised her role at the pool for the semi-finals on Sunday evening. Her audacious performance in her morning heat had previously brought her to the spotlight. Nevertheless, she was determined to push the boundaries even further, producing the quickest swim she’s ever completed which secured her one of the final’s eight berths. This spectacular achievement also raised the bar on her own Irish record to 1:05.51.
South Africa’s Tatjana Smith, the Olympic record holder clinched the win, touching the finish at 1:05.00. This precisely mirrored her heat time from Sunday morning. The world record holder from the USA, Lilly King, secured third place with a time of 1:05.64. Previous Olympic champion from 2012, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte ended up behind McSharry.
McSharry, composure personified, dished out a modest response, “Absolutely thrilled to have made successful strides through the competitions like this, couldn’t have asked for more.”
“Holding my spot in the final was my sole mission for the semi-finals,” she continued, “I genuinely feel that my performance was enhanced by maintaining my focus on my own race and not getting too caught up with those around me. [I] did start a tad slower in the first 50, likely due to a bit more relaxation, but it worked out in my favour because I was able to finish stronger.”
Moreover, there’s absolutely no basis to scoff at the possibility of a medal in her future. The final is scheduled to commence at 8.25pm Irish time on Monday evening.
“I am absolutely thrilled, given that we all stand the same one in eight chance,” articulated McSharry. “The anticipation that comes with being associated with the middle lane is exhilarating, and cementing my position here was my main objective. I am undeniably excited.”
“With my mates and relatives present in the stands, a firm resolve has been instilled in me. My hard work has finally paid off. From this point forward, it’s a routine of relaxation, sleep, and food. The experiences of these two races, undoubtedly, bolster my confidence, and the familiar faces definitely help!” she said.
It’s noteworthy that none of the women in the first semi-final swam faster than McSharry, not even China’s reigning world champion, Tang Qianting. Qianting, who had outdone McSharry in their previous heat, ended up with a time of 1:05.83.
McSharry, now 23, recorded the second quickest swim of her career with a heat time of 1:05.74, prior to exceeding her own Irish record of 1:05.55 by achieving a 1:05.51. Echoing her extraordinary performance three years ago in Tokyo, where she became the first Irish swimmer since Michelle de Bruin to compete in an Olympic final, McSharry raced in the 100m breaststroke final and secured an eighth place finish with a time of 1:06.94.
Her race began in lane four, where she found herself in the fourth position at the half-way mark. However, she quickly gained on Smith in the concluding 50m. With a steadfast belief in her ability to elevate her performance further, McSharry remains hopeful. Acknowledging that she still has elements to string together for the ultimate performance, she conveyed her enthusiasm about competing against world-class swimmers and holding her own.
In peak form, McSharry arrived in Paris and went under 1:06.00 for the maiden time this year. At the Doha World Championships in February, she secured fifth in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals, narrowly missing out on a 100m medal by a mere 0.5 seconds. In June, she also qualified for a secondary event in Paris, crushing her previous Irish 200m record by more than two seconds to clock 2:22.49.
Furthermore, Daniel Wiffen is aiming to kickstart his medal aspirations on Monday morning in the fourth heat of the 800m freestyle. He will face Sam Short from Australia, whose personal best is 7:37.76, slightly quicker than Wiffen’s 7:39.19. Bobby Finke, the defending champion from the USA, is scheduled to compete in the previous heat, boasting a best time of 7:38.67.