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Wiffen, McSharry & Walshe Headline 12-Strong Irish World Championships Roster

Swim Ireland has revealed its 12-strong lineup headed to Fukuoka, Japan for this summer’s World Championships.

On-fire distance freestyle ace Daniel Wiffen leads the roster with the 21-year-old coming off a monster past couple of competitions which has seen him clock times of 3:44.35 in the 400m free, 7:44.45 in the 800m free and 14:34.91 in the 1500m free.

His latter 1500m time rendered Wiffen the 4th fastest man in history in the event and the Loughborough-based swimmer ranks #2 in the world now only behind Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock of Germany.

Also headed to Fukuoka is Tom Fannon, who used to represent England but is now under the Irish flag. While competing at the Irish Championships earlier this month, Fannon became the first-ever Irishman to delve under the 22-second barrier in the 50m free, posting 21.95 as the new national record.

University of Tennesse’s Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe are also on the list, with the former wreaking havoc on the Irish breaststroke national records at the Irish Championships. McSharry clocked lifetime bests of 30.29 in the 50m ad 1:06.04 in the 100m distance. She ranks 5th in the world in the latter event.

The youngest member of the World Championships roster is represented by John Shortt, who is just 16 years of age. Shortt cranked out career-quickest times of 25.67 in the 50m back, 55.26 in the 100m back and 1:59.23 in the 200m back to earn his spot among Ireland’s best.

On his nomination, 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 [now #2] 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 I can say that my Youtube videos (@WiffenTwins) are going to be very cool, we’ll get everyone involved; a big team will definitely boost the atmosphere and we’ll all be ready to race fast in Japan.”

Swim Ireland’s Performance Director Jon Rudd said, “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. For all of our athletes, across all teams, the challenge is to be faster again in whatever event or events they have been selected for in a few weeks’ time.

“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 – so every event is an end in itself as well as a means to another end. Congratulations to the athletes selected and to the coaches and home programmes that aided them to this point – and whether it’s Fukuoka, Dublin, Belgrade, Maribor, Trinidad, Crete or Piombino, there will be plenty to keep Irish swimming fans happy this summer.”

Swim Ireland also announced the rosters for the inaugural LEN U23 Championships as well as the European Junior Championships.

2023 World Aquatics Championships (50m)

Fukuoka, Japan

Name Home Programme Home Programme Coach
Victoria Catterson National Centre (Ulster) Kevin Anderson
Tom Fannon National Centre (Dublin) Steven Beckerleg
Conor Ferguson Loughborough University, England Ian Hulme
Darragh Greene National Centre (Dublin) Steven Beckerleg
Danielle Hill Larne SC Peter Hill
Max McCusker Arizona State University, USA Herbie Behm
Mona McSharry University of Tennessee, USA Matt Kredich
Erin Riordan National Centre (Dublin) Steven Beckerleg
Shane Ryan National Centre (Dublin) Steven Beckerleg
John Shortt National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek

Ian Claxton

Ellen Walshe Templeogue SC, Dublin Brian Sweeney
Daniel Wiffen Loughborough University, England Andi Manley
2023 LEN European Under 23 Championships

Dublin, Ireland

Name Home Programme Home Programme Coach
Evan Bailey New Ross SC Fran Ronan
Alana Burns-Atkin Banbridge SC Davy Wilson
Jack Cassin National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek
Victoria Catterson National Centre (Ulster) Kevin Anderson
Eoin Corby National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek
Grace Davison Ards SC,

Newtownards

Curtis Coulter
Maria Godden National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek
Grace Hodgins Trojan SC,

Dublin

Jonathan Preston
Molly Mayne Hamilton Aquatics, UAE Stuart Sant
Ellie McCartney National Centre (Ulster) Kevin Anderson
Mona McSharry University of Tennessee, USA Matt Kredich
Liam O’Connor Project 28,

Dublin

Andrew Addison
Lachlan Reed * Club Natacio Sabadell, Spain Antonio Jimenez
Dylan Registe Lisburn City SC Stan Sheppard
John Shortt National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek

Ian Claxton

Oisin Tebite Project 28,

Dublin

Andrew Addison
Ellen Walshe Templeogue SC, Dublin Brian Sweeney
Matthew Walsh-Hussey NAC SC,

Dublin

Dave Malone
Daniel Wiffen Loughborough University, England Andi Manley
2023 LEN European Junior Championships

Belgrade, Serbia

Name Home Programme Home Programme Coach
Evan Bailey New Ross SC Fran Ronan
Alana Burns-Atkin Banbridge SC Davy Wilson
Adam Colgan Lisburn City Stan Sheppard
Grace Davison Ards SC,

Newtownards

Curtis Coulter
Conor Fitzgerald National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek
Molly Mayne Hamilton Aquatics, UAE Stuart Sant
Ellie McCartney National Centre (Ulster) Kevin Anderson
Liam O’Connor Project 28,

Dublin

Andrew Addison
Lachlan Reed * Club Natacio Sabadell, Spain Antonio Jimenez
Dylan Registe Lisburn City SC Stan Sheppard
Cora Rooney Enniskillen Lakelanders Sinead Donagher
John Shortt National Centre (Limerick) John Szaranek

Ian Claxton

Oisin Tebite Project 28,

Dublin

Andrew Addison

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SwimIrish
1 year ago

Lots of ‘padding’ out of the teams with ‘Relay’ qualifiers, and some of whom are questionable as the actual Qualifiers are quite limited, and very few from Centres. Club Coaches and Overseas athletes still the core of the performance system. I think Walshe training at home in Ireland rather than Tennessee.

Irishswim
Reply to  SwimIrish
1 year ago

Someone is clearly bitter. It’s a shame you can’t just celebrate our success or are you not Irish?

Bitter Sweet Swimming
Reply to  Irishswim
1 year ago

Why would not being Irish matter?, it’s not like it matters to Swim Ireland when they select their teams

Bitter Sweet Swimming
Reply to  SwimIrish
1 year ago

Great to see all the qualifiers, but also very true to observe the fact that majority of individuals that have qualified in individual events are not part of any of the centres.

Centre contribution seems to be mainly from ‘new’ Irish and relay hopefuls.

therese crosbie
Reply to  SwimIrish
1 year ago

you say club coaches and overseas athletes are the core of performance system, while yes at the top end of the spectrum many of Ireland’s world champs roster train out of ireland, it’s not to forget the likes of wiffen, mcsharry and ferguson were all junior successes whilst training in ireland. Out of the 30 athletes selected for international competitions, 25 train in ireland and 17 of that train with a national centre (part time/ full time). Surely with 57% of athletes competing internationally and making use of national centres, this proves them useful and successful? Not to mention athletes such as ferguson and wiffen that have previously been in a national centre.

THE REAL THERESE
Reply to  therese crosbie
1 year ago

Seems odd that after years of slagging off a system Therese would return as a fanboy.

I guess there are 3 potential reasons

1- Therese is an employee
2- Therese has a swimmer now in the system
3- IM Therese Crosby the really Therese Crosby all these others Therese Crosby’s are just imitating

🤷‍♀️

Bitter Sweet Swimming
Reply to  therese crosbie
1 year ago

There are a number of issues with an analysis based solely on ‘Number that are selected’.

In terms of counting the full 30, very many of them are in second level education and still living with parents/family, so have not made a full-time training decision, instead are just going to where they’ve been invited. Seeing where they are in 2-3 yrs will be very interesting.

The important measure is on age group 19/20+, who have finished 2nd level, enter College and then make a decision about where is best for them. Of that cohort, the message is very clear, they are leaving the country.

Another issue with the ‘Number who are selected’ is that the national body has clearly selected… Read more »

Vinay
1 year ago

Australia would love to have mcsharry wiffen in its squad

ROSS FIX
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

Ireland would love to have Chalmers and McKeown. What’s your point?

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

Just shut up, no one finds your repeated bashing on Australians on every post funny.

Papanna
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
1 year ago

Truth hurts mate!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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