The Edinburgh International Swim Meet took place last weekend at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, showcasing some of the best swimmers from around the world competing in a range of events, from sprint races to long-distance swims.

This year’s event was particularly exciting, as Covid-19 restrictions have eased, allowing swimmers to compete at their highest level.

World record holder Adam Peaty, Commonwealth Games champion Duncan Scott, and Olympic Tokyo Finalist Abbie Wood were among the top swimmers who confirmed their participation, attracting fans from all over the world.

The event also provided a platform for up-and-coming swimmers to showcase their skills, including Ellie McCartney, who set a Junior Record in the Meet last year. This year, McCartney was in fine form, competing in three events over the three days. The local swimmer travelled as part of a large Swim Ireland squad, which included Irish Olympians Ellen Walshe, Daniel Wiffen, Darragh Greene and Finn McGeever.

On the first day, McCartney swam in the preliminary heats for the 100m Breaststroke as the 11th seed, recording a time close to her personal best and finishing as the fifth seed in the final.

That evening, the 17-year-old improved her time, finishing in fifth place overall.

On Saturday, McCartney swam 100m Butterfly in the long course format for the first time in more than four years and recorded an eight-second personal best.

The highlight of her performance came on the final day when she competed in her favoured 200m Breaststroke against the top British swimmer Abbie Wood and Lily Booker, as well as the World Junior Champion from last year.

Ellie was seeded sixth before the heats and finished the final in third place behind Booker and Wood, both aged 22 and 24 respectively, and ahead of the 2022 World Junior Champion in a time of 2:30.60 – another new personal best.

Kevin Anderson, one of the Swim Ireland coaches at the Meet, said: “Ellie continues to improve with consistent and reliable performance in pressure situations. It’s great to see her race with the confidence of a seasoned competitor. A great effort to medal in a tough field.”

The Edinburgh International Swim Meet was a resounding success, attracting a global audience of swimming enthusiasts on YouTube.

The Irish swimmers have returned to training, with their eyes firmly focused on the Irish Trials in April, where the International competition selection will be decided.

 

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