Irishman On The Move: Ferguson Snaps 100 Back National Record

2017 SWIM CUP AMSTERDAM

The 2016 Swim Ireland Junior Performance Athlete of the Year, Conor Ferguson, continues to impress on the international level across the men’s backstroke events. Tonight in Amsterdam while contesting the 100m distance at the Swim Cup, Ferguson handily took the victory in a time of 52.40, setting a new short course Irish National Record in the process.

The 18-year-old split 24.98 on his opening 50, returning in 27.42 to wipe out his previous personal best of 52.77 from the ASA National Winter Meet last December. In that performance, Ferguson opened in a much slower 25.62 and brought it home in 27.15 to clock the 4th fast time in that Sheffield race.

Just narrowly missing out on Rio qualification, Ferguson made the most of his 2017 World Junior Championships appearance, collecting one of Ireland’s 3 medals ever earned at the international competition. While countrymate Mona McSharry claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m event, Ferguson earned a historic silver in the 100 LCM backstroke.

Previous to that meet, Ferguson became the first Irishman ever to clock a 200m backstroke time (LCM) under the 2-minute mark. While competing at the Irish Open this past April, the teen registered a time of 1:58.80 to take the national title.

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Expat
6 years ago

Ryan not representing Ireland and swimming at European Short Course Champs – is he injured?

Knowledgeable & nice
Reply to  Expat
6 years ago

Shane is finishing up his Internship for his College Degree. He could not do this since he spent so much time in Ireland.

ExPat
6 years ago

Ryan, since becoming “Irish” has never raced SCM just yards. Ryan is never in Ireland when the SCM season is on…definitely would be a good race between them…!

Knowledgeable & nice
Reply to  ExPat
6 years ago

Shane Ryan HAS raced the 100 back in short course, while living in Ireland for a year & a half but since it took a year to become “swim legal” for Ireland, it didn’t count as a record. So his time was actually faster then this but that is not to take anything away from Conor. Great job to Conor! But to be fair, let’s be clear on that fact.

Swimman
6 years ago

Must be the switch he made ?

Kid
6 years ago

RIP Shane Ryan

Dudeman
Reply to  Kid
6 years ago

not quite since shane goes faster both short course and long course if I’m not mistaken but Conor is definitely a very good swimmer on the rise and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him competing at the senior level and hopefully tokyo in the next few years

Markster
Reply to  Dudeman
6 years ago

If Shane Ryan was faster long course then Ferguson wouldn’t have the national record…..

Uberfan
Reply to  Markster
6 years ago

He doesn’t have the long course national record. Lol you think this kid went a 52.40 long course

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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