Ellen Walshe brought her record-breaking form into the first night of finals at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest last night, setting four national records from four swims, while Nathan Wiffen made his World Championships debut
Walshe finished in fifth place in the 200m Individual Medley and was fourteenth overall in the semi-finals of the 50m Butterfly.
In the 200m IM the Templeogue swimmer took an additional one second off the record she had set in yesterday morning’s heats.
Starting with 2:08.32 from her bronze medal winning performance at the European Short Course Championships in 2023, the 23-year-old clocked 2:06.50 this morning and 2:05.52 in the evening to lower the record by almost three seconds.
The USA’s Kate Douglass set a new World Record to win the Final in 2:01.63.
Irish Records
Less than 20 minutes before the Medley Final, Walshe lowered her own 50m Butterfly Irish Record, from 25.65 in this morning’s heats to 25.45, a total of .45 of a second off her 2022 best of 25.90.
There was another World Record in that event with Gretchen Walsh of the USA clocking 23.94, the first woman ever under 24 seconds.
“That’s an absolutely stacked heat, it’s great to be a part of it with the girls and we can only build from there, but yeah, it’s a massive step forward from last year and I’m delighted it’s another second off this morning’s swim, which I wasn’t sure if we could find, but it was there, so absolutely delighted” said Walshe.
On having 20 minutes between races Walshe said “I guess the 50m I kind of just use it as a warm-up swim as well and I knew I obviously wanted to be down under 26 (seconds) again tonight and that’s where I was, so I said if that’s three records, then let’s make it four. I went into the 200 (IM) a lot more confident than I thought I would this week, because I think of the 50 (Butterfly) out in front.”
Walshe is back in the pool on Thursday in the 100m Individual Medley, an event in which she set a new Irish Record of 59.30 in November.
Wiffen Debut
Swimming the fastest heat of the 1500m Freestyle Nathan Wiffen made his World Championships debut with a personal best swim of 14:32.65. Wiffen took over six seconds off his previous best of 14:38.75 to finish sixth in the heat and ninth overall.
Speaking after the race the Loughborough swimmer said “I’m pretty happy with that, I’ve had a long Summer and then to come back and get a six second pb I’m pretty happy.”
“I think I lost it a bit after the 1,000 (metre) mark, I just felt wrecked to be honest, as I tried to go out quite hard. But pleased with that, a pb, you can’t ask for much more.”
Wiffen returns on Thursday for the 400m Freestyle Heats.
This morning, Danielle Hill returns to the pool for the 100m Freestyle with Shane Ryan competing in the men’s event, while Niamh Coyne and Eoin Corby will both contest the 100m Breaststroke Heats.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Ellen Walshe is one of the brightest personalities in Irish sport and one who is committed to giving back to young swimmers as well. Recognising what she gained from older swimmers coming back and swimming alongside here, she does the same in her local club, future proofing the talent pipeline. Great to see her thriving at World level.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Championships continue with streaming live coverage on Eurovision Sport this morning and this evening.
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