Swim Ireland have nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland a strong team of twelve swimmers to represent Ireland at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival in Gyor, Hungary from July 22nd to 30th. The multi-sport event will see Irish athletes aged 14 – 16 years compete in five sports and will be the first taste of international competition for many of them. Irish swimmers’ last outing at the event in 2015 was their most successful ever, with Conor Ferguson, Ellen Walshe and Antoinette Neamt claiming five medals between them (four silvers and a bronze).
Kilkenny and Ards Swimming Clubs both provide three swimmers to the team. Kilkenny’s Maria Godden is the 2017 Irish National Champion in the 200m Backstroke at just 15 years of age, while her team mate Sean Scannell won silver at last month’s Irish Open to Conor Ferguson in the 200m Backstroke Final. Naomi Trait made a number of finals at the Irish Open to secure her place. From Ards, 400m Individual Medley Irish Open bronze medallist Amelia Kane makes the squad alongside Scarlett Armstrong and Mia Davison.
Cara Osing and Templeogue Swim Club teammate Sean McNicholl will also compete in Hungary. Both took wins in Junior Finals at the Irish Open, Osing in the 100m Freestyle and McNicholl in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and the 100m Butterfly.
Banbridge’s Julia Knox is another Irish Open finalist, with the 14 year old having top five finishes in senior finals in the 200m Butterfly, 200m and 400m Individual Medley and 400m Freestyle. The team is completed by Athlone’s Rebecca Lowe, Limerick’s Eoin Corby and Trojan Swim Clubs Ethan Murtagh.
Lars Humer, Head Coach at Swim Ireland’s National Centre (Limerick) will lead the team in Gyor, assisted by Kilkenny’s John Duffy. Humer said, “I am very much looking forward to leading this team. It is a group of highly talented athletes and we are hopeful that they are not just successful in the now but that we all recognise this group as forming the core of our hopes and aspirations over the next two Olympic cycles. A multi-sport event is a wonderful experience for this age group and will encourage each and every one of them to continue to strive for senior international success at what is just the beginning of such a journey.”
IOC European Youth Olympic Festival, 22nd – 30th July, Gyor, Hungary
| Athlete Name | Home Club | Home Coach |
| Scarlett Armstrong | Ards | Davy Johnson |
| Mia Davison | Ards | Davy Johnson |
| Maria Godden | Kilkenny | John Duffy |
| Amelia Kane | Ards | Davy Johnson |
| Julia Knox | Banbridge | Davy Wilson |
| Rebecca Lowe | Athlone | Johnny Powell |
| Cara Osing | Templeogue | Brian Sweeney |
| Naoimi Trait | Kilkenny | John Duffy |
| Eoin Corby | National Centre (Limerick) | Lars Humer |
| Sean McNicholl | Templeogue | Ash Morris |
| Ethan Murtagh | Trojan | Botond Solymossy |
| Sean Scannell | Kilkenny | John Duffy |
| Lars Humer | Lead Coach | |
| John Duffy | Assistant Coach | |
| Niamh McDonnell | Team Manager |
News courtesy of Swim Ireland.
