28-Yr-Old Tom Fannon Scorches 21.58 Irish Record In 50 Freestyle

2026 IRISH SUMMER NATIONAL YOUTH & SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, July 21st – Saturday, July 25th
• Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown, Fingal, Ireland
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Live Results

The 2026 Irish Summer National Youth & Senior Championships got underway this week from the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Fingal.

A big-time Irish national record went down on day two of the competition, with 28-year-old Tom Fannon ripping a monster personal best to take the men’s 50m freestyle.

Racing in the final, Fannon stopped the clock at a rapid time of 21.58.

That registered the sole time of the pack under the 22-second barrier, with Olly Watts next to the wall over a second later in 22.64, followed by Thomas Leggett who rounded out the podium in 22.83.

As for Fannon, his 21.58 performance erased his own former Irish standard of 21.74 he put on the books at the 2024 Olympic Games. That prior record rendered the Irishman a 10th place finish there in Paris.

Fannon’s outing here represents his 14th outing in the 21-second zone and he now ranks 40th among the top 50 performers worldwide and checks in the 19th-best European performer in history.

Furthermore, Fannon’s new PB would have earned the gold at the last two editions of the European Aquatics Swimming Championships, with this year’s competition taking place later this month.

He now ranks 10th in the world on the season.

As a refresher, Fannon represented England in the past, including at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. There in the 50m free on the Gold Coast, Australia, Fannon produced an effort of 22.25 for 8th place.