‘Something I’ll never forget’ – McSharry wins Ireland’s first medal at Olympics

Mona McSharry has won Ireland’s first medal of the Paris Olympics after taking bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

McSharry finished third in a tight final, which was won by South Africa’s Tatjana Smith with Tang Qianting second for China.

The 23-year-old looked in shock as she checked the screen to see where she had finished, as her quiet confidence about securing a medal in Paris became a euphoric reality.

“It’s amazing,” the Sligo swimmer told BBC Sport NI after winning Ireland’s first medal in the pool since the Atlanta Games in 1996.

“It’s amazing to be part of a race with such tight competitors. To come out and watch the Irish flag being raised, and to be part of that atmosphere, was unbelievable.

“It’s something I’m never going to forget.”

McSharry still looked in disbelief as she stood on the podium some 20 minutes after the conclusion of her race as the Irish flags dominated the Parisian arena.

After stepping off the rostrum, she ran to a group of Irish flags in the corner before taking some time to savour her historic moment.

“You can’t really ask for anything more than winning a medal at the Olympics,” she added.

“I’m not even sure that was really something that little me dreaming of going to the Olympics thought was possible.

“I’ve kept pushing and that’s what I’ve been training for all year, to be top three and dreams do come true.”

In an ultra-tight final, McSharry finished 0.31 seconds off winner Smith and just 0.01 seconds ahead of Italian Benedetta Pilato, who was fourth.

McSharry is competing in her second Olympics and, before flying to Paris, had told BBC Sport she was targeting a medal after reaching the final in Tokyo three years ago.

When asked what the little girl who grew up in Sligo would think of her success, McSharry said “making it to two Olympics was already a pretty big feat for what she had dreamed”.

“To be an Olympic medallist is just one step further and I couldn’t be more proud of myself.”

McSharry’s qualifying times backed up that belief as she qualified for Monday’s final as the second fastest swimmer, and her time in the final was only marginally slower than the swim that got her to the showpiece.

There were huge cheers in the La Defense Arena from the Irish support throughout the race as the swimmers continue to deliver in the pool.

World champion Daniel Wiffen, from Northern Ireland, is one of the favourites to win gold in the men’s 800m freestyle final on Tuesday after qualifying fastest in the heats, while Ellen Walshe also reached a first Olympic final earlier on Monday.

“It’s really just about racing and getting your hands on the wall first,” McSharry added.

“I’ve quite a number of people here supporting which is just amazing. It’s hard to spot them all in the crowd but hopefully later we can catch up and just be happy and enjoy this moment.”