2026 MCCULLAGH INTERNATIONAL
- Friday, February 20th – Sunday, February 22nd
- Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, Dublin, Ireland
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Live Results
The 2026 McCullagh International kicked off today at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, with multiple swimmers making their presence felt to start their campaigns. Although not a qualification competition, it’s an important stepping stone on the journey to selection meets for this year’s Commonwealth Games.
29-year-old Olympic multi-medalist Duncan Scott raced his way to gold in the men’s 200m butterfly, stopping the clock at 1:56.82 to beat the pack by well over two seconds.
The University of Stirling star represented one of two sub-2:00 swimmers, with Jack Cassin joining him under the barrier in a silver medal-worthy effort of 1:59.44. Marcal Whittles produced 2:03.83 for bronze.
As for Scott, he’s been as fast as 1:54.89 in this event, a time he registered at the 2025 Aquatics GB Championships to become GBR’s #2 performer of all time. Only national record holder Michael Rock has been swifter in the supersuited benchmark of 1:54.58 put on the books in 2009.
Scott’s time tonight, however, does insert itself into slot #4 among the versatile champion’s all-time best personal performances. In fact, it beat the 1:56.89 he put up for 5th place at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Stirling teammate Jack McMillan dove in for the men’s 800m free, dominating the field in a super solid result of 8:11.30.
The next-closest performer was Limerick’s Denis O’Brien who clocked 8:34.62 followed by Dante Sinnott‘s time of 8:40.63.
26-year-old McMillan represented Ireland at the 2020 Olympic Games but switched to Great Britain for the 2024 Games in Paris where he was a member of the men’s gold medal-winning 4×200 free relay. He earned gold again in the same event last year at the World Championships.
On the individual level, McMillan broke through in a big way, taking his first-ever elite international individual title by winning gold in the 400m free at the 2025 European Short Course Championships.
19-year-old Irish national record holder John Shortt was another victor on the men’s side, producing a swift in-season effort of 25.32 in the men’s 50m back.
That held a healthy advantage over Scott Gibson who settled for silver in 25.70 while Paddy Johnston also landed on the podium in 25.97, good enough for bronze.
Shortt’s time was within striking distance of his best-ever, a mark of 25.06 logged for bronze at the 2025 World Junior Championships. That represented one of three pieces of hardware the teen took away from Otopeni, adding it to the golds he earned in the 100 and 200m backstroke events.
The women’s events were highlighted by 19-year-old Grace Davison grabbing teh gold in the 100m freestyle.
Davison touched in a time of 55.27 to get to the wall nearly a second ahead of her competitors.
Rosalie Phelan snagged silver in 56.22 and Lucy Hope of Stirling reaped bronze in 56.62.
Davison’s lifetime best remains at the 54.80 she notched for bronze at last year’s European Junior Championships.
Additional Notes
- McMillan raced in the prelims of the men’s 100m freestyle where he scored the top time of 49.08 before bowing out of the final.
- Jena Macdougald topped the women’s 50m back podium in 29.06, just a hair ahead of Lottie Cullen who settled for silver in 29.07. Petra Halmai also landed on the podium in 29.46.
- Olympian Ellen Walshe raced in the heats of two events before dropping out of their final contests. 25-year-old Walshe clocked 29.11 in the 50 back and 55.96 in the women’s 100m freestyle.
- Federico Poggio was too quick to catch in the men’s 100m breast, posting 1:01.01 to beat the field by nearly a second.
These articles always remind me of how different American English is to British English. ‘Dove’ always surprises me.
And I’m even engaged to an Englishman!