Enniskillen swimmer Ellie McCartney delivered an outstanding performance at Swim Ireland’s 2024 Irish Open Swimming Championships and Olympic Trials over five action-packed days.
The stakes were high with over 300 swimmers from 60 clubs vying for National titles across 34 individual events.
Swimmers also aimed to secure spots on three senior National Teams for the European Aquatics Championships (50m) in June, the Paris Olympic Games in July, and the World Aquatics Championships (25m) in December.
McCartney swimming out of the National Centre Limerick, entered the championships in impressive form and did not disappoint.
She emerged as the fastest qualifier in the 200m Individual Medley heats, clocking an impressive 2:14.92. This time, she met the consideration mark for the European Championships in Serbia next month.
In the final event of day two, McCartney clinched her first Long Course National Championship title in the 200m Individual Medley. She finished the race with a commanding time of 2:16.04, ahead of UCD’s Jena Macdougald (2:20.71) and Portmarnock’s Megan Jones (2:22.85).
Continuing her stellar performance, McCartney also secured a spot as the fourth fastest female in the 100m freestyle in Ireland.
However, it was her thrilling duel in the 200m Breaststroke that captivated the audience.
In the heats, just five-tenths of a second separated her from National Centre Dublin’s Niamh Coyne, with McCartney finishing in 2:32.48 against Coyne’s 2:32.94.
The competition intensified in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke A Final, where McCartney narrowly edged out Coyne, clocking 2:29.67, a mere six-hundredths of a second faster. This performance earned McCartney the top seed for Sunday’s Super Final and met the consideration time for the European Championships once again.
On Sunday, McCartney capped off her remarkable week by winning her second gold medal in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final. She touched in a European Championships consideration time of 2:29.20, ahead of Coyne (2:30.46) and Limerick’s Olwyn Cooke (2:32.70).
Ellie McCartney's achievements at the Irish Open not only highlight her as a formidable competitor but also set her up as a strong contender for the upcoming European Aquatics Championships.
Her progression this season underscores her dedication and potential to make a significant impact on the international stage.
With five Irish Swimmers achieving the Olympic Qualifications times this can only spur McCartney on to bigger and better things.
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