2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Full Swimming Schedule
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pick ’em Contest
- How To Watch
- Entry Lists
- Live Results
- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
Prior to this year, Ireland only had one Olympic medalist in the sport of swimming. With three golds and a bronze from the 1996 Olympic Games, Michelle Smith is arguably the most decorated Irish swimmer in history. However, her legacy is tainted — two years after her successful Olympics, she received a four-year doping ban for tampering using alcohol to tamper with her urine samples from drug tests. In addition, it was revealed that she took androstenedione, a substance that got banned in 1997, prior to being tested.
At the Paris Olympic games, Ireland finally excised its’ Smith-induced demons. First, Mona McSharry claimed bronze in the women’s 100 breast and broke the Irish record for the same event in the semi-finals (1:05.51). That same session, Ellen Walshe finished 8th in the 400 IM, her first-ever Olympic final. A day later, Daniel Wiffen surged on his back half to claim Olympic gold in the 800 free, breaking the Olympic record with a time of 7:38.19 in the process.
With those medals, McSharry and Wiffen became the first Irish swimmers to medal at the Olympic games since Smith in 1996, as well as the second and third Irish swimming medalists ever. Additionally, Wiffen is now the first Irish man to win an Olympic medal. In other words, there was only one Irish Olympic swimming medalist in 125 years. And this year, there were two in one Olympic Games.
And the crazy thing is that this may not be it for Ireland. Wiffen still has the 1500 free left to swim, where he is also a medal contender and the second overall seed. Walshe will also have the 200 IM left to swim, which is arguably her best event.
Now with this new generation of Irish stars, the nation can at least partially put the past behind them to celebrate the present. And with Walshe, Wiffen, and McSharry being 22, 23, and 23 years old respectively, the future is looking very bright.
random thing i learned, looks like Wiffen is from Northern Ireland, and had the option to choose GB or Ireland. looks like most athletes from NI choose Ireland.
There are various factors that go into an athlete’s decision. It is mostly down to funding or support from a national governing body and not due to political reasons.
There are athletes from NI competing for both GB and Ireland in Paris, and as you say most are choosing Ireland. Rugby, golf, gymnastics, boxing etc are all governed as All Ireland.
GB have Jack McMillan (who switched from Ireland since Tokyo) and a female rower who is considered to have a great medal chance this week.
Ireland have Dan Wiffen, Danielle Hill and Conor Ferguson in the pool. Two other NI gold medal contenders in particular for Ireland are Rory McIlroy and gymnast Rhys McClenaghan. McIlroy even avoided playing… Read more »
Tears over a bronze? That’s what it is all about! I teared up watching her interview and I’m tearing up as I type. Thank you Mona for the joy and perspective. We need more of that in the world.
You don’t have to wear gold to be a champion. Mona, you have proven this. You are my champion 😊
So happy for McSarry–an outstanding swimmer and super person. Well done.
Wiffen and McSharry are true, legitimate medalists while Smith would have been better served representing East Germany. Actually, I do a disservice to the East Germans who were forced against their wills to partake in a state drug program. Smith was a downright cheat, one of the worst in Olympic history. As an Irishman, I am delighted for Wiffen and McSharry. Smith makes me want to throw up.
Well said.
Nice clarification Yanyan. Smith’s drug taking and ban is something other media outlets, including the BBC, are choosing to ignore.
An unbelievably MASSIVE congratulations to Mona and Dan!