Shane Ryan Nails Irish National Record In Short Course 100 Backstroke

2019 LEINSTER SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, November 2nd & Sunday, November 3rd
• Dublin, Ireland
• SCM
• Results (when available)

While competing at the 2019 Leinster Short Course Championships meet in Dublin this weekend, 25-year-old Shane Ryan produced a new Irish national record in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Ryan nailed a winning time of 51.62 to top the podium and knock .42 off the previous Irish national standard. The old mark stood at 52.04 Conor Ferguson put up at the 2018 Short Course World Championships in Hangzhou, China.

That’s the same meet at which Ryan became Ireland’s first-ever World Championships medalist, with the former Penn State swimmer reaping bronze in the men’s 50m backstroke in a time of 22.76, a new national record.

At this year’s long course FINA World Aquatic Championships, Ryan fell short in the 100m back event, clocking 54.24 to place 21st after the heats. His prelims swim in the 50m back event was good enough to make the semi-finals before Ryan withdrew to focus solely on Olympic qualification for Ireland’s men’s medley relay.

Although the Irish squad posted a new medley relay national record in Gwangju, they placed 14th and fell short of a top 10-automatic bid for Tokyo. They still have time to qualify and sit among our top contenders for an at-large bid.