As the European Swimming Championships approach in Paris, Mona McSharry is not just another name on the Team Ireland roster. She is a quiet force, a woman who has learned to carry the weight of expectation with the steady breath of a seasoned athlete. The Sligo native, who claimed Olympic bronze in the 100m breaststroke in the same city three years ago, is now aiming for her first long-course European medal. And she is doing it her way, with patience, grit, and a deep trust in the process.
McSharry will open her campaign in the 100m breaststroke heats on Monday, the first day of the championships. Later in the week, she will take on the 200m breaststroke, an event that has tested her resolve but now feels like a second home. 'I'm expecting to swim well,' she told RTÉ Sport's John Kenny. 'Having gotten sick last year at Worlds and not really being able to see my full potential, I'm excited to be able to rest and see where the 100 is at, see where the 200 is at. I'm really excited to swim fast.'
There is a groundedness in her voice, a sense that she has moved beyond the frantic chase for medals. After taking silver in Rome a few weeks ago, McSharry admitted she was not sure she wanted to dive back into another Olympic cycle. But something shifted. 'I really couldn't envision myself doing another four years,' she said. 'But after the break and coming back, I realised that I'm still really enjoying the training, and that's where you spend most of your time. The fact I'm still willing to push and work really hard in that aspect, I think is kinda showing in my times.'
Balancing the 100m and 200m: A Question of Focus
McSharry's bread and butter has always been the 100m breaststroke, but her recent work in the 200m has been a revelation. Dropping a 2:22 to qualify for the 2024 Olympics was a milestone, but the frustration of not being able to repeat that time lingered. 'I'd been doing a lot of good work around the 200. It was just when am I going to actually see the results?' she reflected. 'So I feel like I'm in a really good place now with the 200, and I'm able to put together a good race and hopefully that will be another good event for me.'
For McSharry, the two events are not in competition. They feed each other. 'For training purposes, I don't see myself focusing down in on one. Training for the 100 helps the 200 and vice versa,' she explained. 'I'm just going to be focusing on both, and putting equal focus on training in both and trying to do as well as I can in both.'
Training Hard, Racing Smart
This summer, McSharry chose a quieter path. Instead of a packed racing calendar, she prioritised heavy training blocks. 'I did Sette Colli and one other meet. But I've been really enjoying just putting some hard training in, training with my teammates. We push each other really well, so that's really nice,' she said. 'Knowing that I kind of have someone right beside me for every race, that is really good.'
It is a deliberate strategy, one that reflects a deeper understanding of her own body and mind. 'I did a lot of racing late last year, and that was great and really good, and then I think I needed a big block of training. So we decided that we're going to do a bit of racing, but mostly training for that block leading into Europeans.'
Team Ireland: A Growing Force
At 25, soon to be 26, McSharry is one of the more experienced members of a young and hungry Team Ireland. The depth of talent in the squad is something she takes pride in. 'I'm excited. It's definitely a really big team. It's going to be fun to make some new friends, meet some new people and talk to the next group of swimmers coming up,' she said. 'Irish swimming is in a really good place. We definitely have got some building to do for the next crew down behind what's coming up, but it's really exciting and having such a big team is definitely a good place to be.'
For McSharry, the journey is not just about medals. It is about showing up, day after day, in the cold water of the training pool, and trusting that the work will speak for itself. As she heads into the European Championships, she carries not just the hopes of a nation, but the quiet confidence of a woman who has learned to listen to her own rhythm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What events is Mona McSharry competing in at the European Championships?
McSharry will compete in the 100m breaststroke heats on the opening day, Monday, and the 200m breaststroke later in the week.
Has Mona McSharry won a European medal before?
She won Olympic bronze in the 100m breaststroke in Paris in 2024 and silver in the same event in Rome this summer. She is aiming for her first long-course European medal.
How is McSharry preparing differently for these championships?
She has focused on heavy training blocks rather than a packed racing schedule, prioritising time in the pool with her teammates over multiple meets.