Swim Ireland has announced that Ireland is to host the inaugural European U23 Swimming Championships in 2023.
The European Swimming Federation event will take place at the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus between August 10th and 13th.
Eligible Irish athletes include Ireland’s newly minted European Record holder Daniel Wiffen, as well as 2021 World Short Course silver medallist Ellen Walshe and Irish Record holders Victoria Catterson, Niamh Coyne and Uiseann Cooke.
Amongst the European stars potentially in attendance will be teen swimming sensation David Popovici; the Romanian is the current 100m Freestyle World Record holder. World Champions Benedetta Pilato (Italy) and Thomas Ceccon (Italy) are also eligible.
Ireland has previously hosted the European Short Course Swimming Championships in 2003 and the World Para Swimming European Championships in 2018.
“This is fantastic news for swimming and for sport in Ireland,” said Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers.
“We are developing the Sport Ireland Campus and Ireland generally as an attractive host for major European and international sports events which bring major boosts for our country in terms of drawing more visitors to Ireland, as well as driving increased participation in sport and in swimming. ”
“The inaugural U23 European Swimming Championships will be a wonderful occasion to see some of the best swimmers around, including many incredibly talented Irish swimming stars, compete for top honours in the National Aquatic Centre. As we continue our work on the development of a National Swimming Strategy, I am very proud my Department is supporting this event and I look forward to European swimming elite coming to Dublin next year.”
“This is a fantastic win for Irish Swimming,” added Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane.
“For many years, we have been building towards hosting a major event at the NAC, and to be selected as the first country to host the U23 Championships is outstanding.”
“We have a great competition and officials’ team who are relishing the opportunity to deliver this level of meet. Swimming fans will be treated to a brilliant spectacle as we welcome Europe’s elite to Dublin in August. Huge thanks must go to Minister Chambers and his Department and to Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland Campus who have supported Swim Ireland to make this a reality.”
“I am looking forward to welcoming the inaugural European U23 Swimming Championships to the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in 2023,” said Dr Una May, CEO of Sport Ireland.
“We are proud to have athletes from all over Europe compete here, and to see the high standard of facilities that are available in Ireland. We look forward to working with Swim Ireland and LEN (European Swimming Federation) to make this event a success.”
