Wiffen & Walshe Head Up 13-Strong Irish SC European Championships Roster

Swim Ireland has announced its 13-strong squad headed to Lublin, Poland this December for the 2025 European Short Course Championships.

The lineup is headlined by Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen, with the 24-year-old freestyle ace joined by national record holders Ellen Walshe and John Shortt.

Wiffen is coming off of appendix surgery, which occurred in September, followed by a training base move to California.

Wiffen earned a trio of golds at the 2023 edition of SC Euros in Otopeni, Romania, topping the men’s 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle podiums. He established national records in all three events, with his mark of 7:20.46 also representing a new World Record, which stands today.

As for Walshe, the 24-year-old Olympian has been wreaking havoc on the national record board while competing at this year’s World Cup series.

Most recently in Toronto, Walshe nailed a lifetime best of 2:02.36 for a new Irish benchmark in the 200m fly and also clocked 4:22.97 for a new standard in the women’s 400m IM.

Additional Lublin-bound swimmers include Ellie McCartney, Evan Bailey and Tom Fannon. Mona McSharry has opted not to travel to this year’s European Short Course Championships.

On the roster, interim Swim Ireland National Performance Director Andy Reid stated, ‘Congratulations to all athletes and their coaches on selection to the 2025 European Aquatics Championships (25m) Team. A special mention goes to our four senior team debutants, stepping onto the senior international stage for the first time. We are looking forward to delivering fast, end-of-cycle one short course racing and setting the tone for the season ahead.’