Shane Ryan Breaks Irish 50 Back Record at Mare Nostrum

2016 MARE NOSTRUM TOUR – BARCELONA

• Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12, 2016
• Barcelona, Spain
• Meet Website
• Start Lists
• Results Saturday
• Results Sunday

Today at finals, Shane Ryan of Ireland broke the National Record in the 50 back, almost going under the 25 mark. Shane swam the event in a time of 25.09, besting his prelims time of 25.30. At European Championships this year, Ryan also broke the Irish National Record in the 100 back (54.21).

Coming in second in the 50 back was British swimmer Christopher Walker-Hebborn in a time of 25.40, closely followed by Augusto Guido Guilherme of Brazil (25.46).

The record of 25.35 was previously held by Conor Ferguson, who set the record this past March. Ferguson narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics in the 100 back at Irish Nationals in April, missing the qualifying time by .05 seconds.

Ryan swam for Penn State where he was a multiple-time NCAA qualifier. He qualified for the first time in his sophomore year, and swam a 44.78 in the 100 back to place second in the event at 2014 NCAAs.

During his junior year, Ryan won the 100 back at Big Ten Championships, which was enough to earn him an NCAA “A” cut. He placed 3rd at NCAAs in the event, swimming it in a time of 45.24. Ryan holds Penn State records in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 back and has lead multiple relays to record setting times.

After his junior year, Ryan moved to Ireland to train with Ireland National Team in hopes of a Rio birth.

Ryan swam under the Olympic Qualifying time in the 100 backstroke at the Swim Ulster Dave McCullagh Meet in March, 2016, and will therefore represent Ireland in Rio.