Swimming:Andrew Bree was way short of his best today as the Irish swimmer failed to advance to the semi-finals in his specialist 200 metre breaststroke at the World Championships in Rome.
The Helen’s Bay swimmer clocked a time of 2:12.90 to finish 30th overall. The 28-year-old’s time was almost three seconds slower than the time that earned him a semi-final place at the Beijing Olympics last year.
“That wasn’t my best performance out there, It just didn’t feel right from the start and felt a little too choppy,” said Bree afterwards.
“I’m going to go back now and analyse the race with my coaches and see what I need to do to get back down to my best again.
“We’ve a team of 13 swimmers who’ve all been swimming really well so far. I’m going to get back out there and get behind the other swimmers who have more races to come here in Rome.”
Another new Irish record was set by Bangor’s Clare Dawson in the 100m freestyle but her time of 56.32 was still way down in 41st overall. Fiona Doyle touched the wall in 56.96 to be 60th.
If failing to contend for medals this week then breaking Irish records has definitely been a strong theme for the Irish squad in Rome.
Karl Burdis became the latest to make his mark when he lowered the Irish 200m backstroke record. His time of 2:04.34 was 0.39 better than Adrian O'Connor's 1996 mark to leave the Dubliner 43rd overall.
The women’s 4x200m freestyle team relay made up of Melanie Nocher, Dawson, Niamh O’Sullivan and Nuala Murphy smashed the Irish senior record (8.18.31) to finish in 8.09.34 and be 15th overall.
Irish swimmers in action tomorrow are Barry Murphy and Conor Leaney (50m freestyle), Leaney (100m butterfly), Nocher (200m backstroke) and Grainne Murphy and Murphy (800m freestyle).