Walshe clinches second gold medal at Europeans

Irish swimmer Ellen Walshe secured her second gold medal at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris by taking victory in the 200m individual medley in Paris on Saturday.

Placed fifth at the 150m mark, Walshe produced a strong final 50m to record a time of 2:09.81and add to the gold she won in the 400m individual medley earlier in the championships.

The 24-year-old will have an opportunity to clinch a third medal on Sunday evening when she competes in the final of the 200m fly.

She posted the fourth fastest time in her semi-final in that event, clocking 2:08.96 to finish fifth overall of the qualifiers.

"I knew coming off that last wall I was going to have to do at least 14 metres underwater and try to get myself back up and just go for it," Walshe said.

"I just stuck to my own race plan, stayed really calm on the breaststroke, which sometimes I do tend to rush it and add a number of strokes, and just feel it under pressure, it all worked out tonight."

Mona McSharry will also have the chance to add a third medal when she contests the 50m breaststroke final on Sunday.

She took third in her semi-final and seventh overall, posting 30.43, which was marginally slower than the time of 30.37 she set in her heat.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Daniel Wiffen ended his championships with an eighth-placed finish in the 1500m freestyle final.

Wiffen's time was 15:06.30, with gold medallist Johannes Liebmann from Germany, setting a new world record of 14:26.79.

"I'm dead to be honest but I'm happy to be in that race and see that world record fall again," Wiffen said

"I was in it in the Olympics when I got bronze and to see that mark drop again was impressive.

"I put together another race, not that my time was great, but I'm happy I'm in these finals to get back to where I was and that's what next season is going to be about - to keep going and push for that medal in LA [2028 Olympics].

"I'm happy that is me finished now and I can have a break as the last 15 weeks to get my fitness back have been a lot of work."