Viola McSharry described her feelings of elation and relief after her daughter, Mona McSharry, an Olympic swimmer, secured a bronze medal. Mona, a 23-year-old native of Grange, Co Sligo, finished third in the 100m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics held on Monday evening.
“It felt like it was all happening in slow motion,” said Viola while on the RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland show. “It was an indescribable experience which could’ve swung either way. But she clinched the third spot and that was absolutely brilliant. We’re brimming with pride.”
Despite being fourth in previous contests, a position that isn’t easy to accept even when one reaches the final, she persevered and triumphed this time.
“There has been an outpouring of support from around Ireland,” stated Viola, expressing the family’s gratitude for the tremendous encouragement they had received. “The volume of messages were overwhelming. We could really feel the support from the Irish citizens last night.”
Back in Grange, Co Sligo, Patrick McSharry, Mona’s grandfather, beamed with pride at her hard-fought success. He expressed his feelings to RTÉ: “We’re immensely proud of her. She’s put in hard work over the years, even pushing through frosty, snowy mornings to go swimming. The town of Grange couldn’t be prouder. If I could give her a message right now, it would be a big hug and to tell her how proud we are.” Patricia Doonan, Mona’s aunt, echoed the sentiments, proclaiming herself a “very proud auntie.”
“I’m simply overjoyed, it’s as if I have accomplished the swim myself. The ecstasy I feel for her is immense – such a feat she’s achieved. She’s had visions of this moment since her childhood. Nevertheless, we often hear these assertions, yet experiencing the actuality of it is profoundly more wondrous. She’s our hero, we couldn’t be prouder.”
Mona’s uncle, John McSharry, further remarked on her long-standing aspiration to participate in the Olympics. “The remarkable part about Mona’s accomplishment is her humble beginning in a 25m pool. Over a period of a decade or so, she’s risen to become the European Junior Champion and the World Junior Champion, all from her starting point in a 25m pool. It’s truly mind-blowing what she’s achieved.”
“Her tenacity and resilience are commendable and I beam with pride at all her accomplishments. Bravo Mona,” he concluded.