Ellie McCartney had a stunning outing at the 2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade last weekend.

The Enniskillen native reached three finals during the week with an eighth-place finish in the 200m Breaststroke Final and the 200m Individual Medley (IM) Final.

She also played her part in the Irish 4x100m Mixed Medley relay the team that took a sixth in Europe. McCartney began her weekend with a 19th place finish in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke Heats, with a time of 1:09.53.

In the Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay, McCartney swam the freestyle leg and joined her peers to grab sixth in the final with a time of 3:51.06, shaving five seconds from their earlier performance.

(Image: Impartial Reporter)

McCartney advanced into the Women’s 200m Breaststroke with a personal best of 2:28.63, finishing third in her heat and qualifying fifth overall.

She said after the race: “I’m really happy, third in the heat and it’s a personal best by almost a full second.

"I’m really surprised by that. Morning swims aren’t really my thing so it’s good to be getting at it bright and early.”

She hit another personal best of 2:26.76 in the semi-finals, locking in her place in the final.

Looking back on her performance, she said: “I’m definitely shocked, 200 Breast hasn’t been my focus this year, I think this is only the third gala I’ve swam it, to go 2:28 for the first time this morning to 2:26 now is something really special.”

She went on to compete in the 200m Individual Medley heat, going on to the semi-final with a time of 2:16.66.

Later that day, she qualified for the IM Final, the eighth fastest, with a time of 2:14.37.

In the final of the 200m Breaststroke, she sealed eight-place with a 2:28.68 swim. Her last outing was in the 200 IM Final, her third European final of the week.

Lightning held up the race but after a 20-minute break, she was introduced and went on to set a personal best of 2:14.09 in the final, breaking her Ulster Senior Record the year before.

Speaking on her performance, she said: “It was an exciting race, it was all over the place with lighting, but it’s nice to progress through the rounds quicker each time, and it’s good to get a PB in the end after a long week in the pool.

"I think coming out here, I wanted to prove a point that I’m not just a junior swimmer and that I can contribute to the team at a senior level.

"To come away making three finals, I can come away satisfied knowing I made that point.”