Three of Ireland’s top swimmers are gearing up for the FINA Swimming World Swimming Championships in Barcelona starting this Sunday (28th July). The team of Barry Murphy, Fiona Doyle and Sycerika McMahon are already based in Barcelona ahead of the first day of racing at the Palau Sant Jordi, one of the main venues for the 1992 Olympic Games.
Sycerika McMahon will be the first Irish swimmer in action when she takes to the pool on Day 1 for her main event, the 200m Individual Medley. McMahon qualified for the event at the Olympic Games in July 2012 when she swam the FINA A time and a personal best of 2:14.76.
Barry Murphy will also take to the pool Sunday in the 50m Butterfly. Murphy has opted out of the 100m Breastroke which is taking on the same day to concentrate on the Butterfly sprint. Irish Record holder in the event, he set the record of 24.21 just last month at the Sette Colli International Meet in Rome.
World University Games Silver medallist Fiona Doyle will swim the 100m Breatstroke event on Day 2 (Monday). The current Irish Record holder swam a time of 1:07.66 at the World Univserity Games earlier this month and is keen to lower this time even further at the Championships.
Speaking prior to the Championships, Swim Ireland’s National Perfromance Director Peter Banks said “Our goal is to have swimmers progress to the semi-finals and swim pb’s, this is an experienced group of swimmers and I’m excited to see how they are going to perform this week.”
Press Releases will issue daily following heat and finals sessions.
