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Fiona Doyle claims Ireland’s first medal at the World University Games

23-year-old from Limerick swam breaststroke career best to claim a bronze medal

Team Ireland’s Fiona Doyle, Limerick, (University of Calgary) with her bronze medal after finishing 3rd in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke final with a time of 1:07.15 and a new Irish National record. Photo: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Team Ireland’s Fiona Doyle, Limerick, (University of Calgary) with her bronze medal after finishing 3rd in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke final with a time of 1:07.15 and a new Irish National record. Photo: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Mon Jul 06 2015 - 15:12

Swimmer Fiona Doyle claimed Ireland’s first medal at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea today as she won bronze to continue her excellent form after yesterday qualifying for the Olympics.

Doyle secured the “A” qualification time in the semi-final of the 100m breaststroke yesterday clocking 1:07.67 which ranked her fourth going into today’s final. That time was just one hundredth of a second off her Irish Senior Record of 1:07.66 from the final of the same event in 2013 where she won silver. The University of Calgary student today smashed that time swimming 1:07.15 to take the bronze.

“I’m absolutely delighted with today’s result,” she said. “Getting the Olympic time in the semi-final was great as it meant I could get it out of my head and concentrate on swimming as fast as I could. I’m happy with the medal, another colour might have been nicer, but it was over half a second faster than my best time so I’m pleased with that. Technically my race could have been better but I can improve on that and bring it into World Championships in a few weeks which is my main goal this summer.”

Japan’s Mina Matsushima claimed the gold medal in 1:06.76 with silver going to USA’s Lillia King in 1:06.93.

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23-year-old Doyle from Limerick is back in action in the heats of the 200m breaststroke tomorrow where she is currently ranked eighth.

Nicholas Quinn and Sycerika McMahon were in semi-final action for the second time this week this morning. Having swum a lifetime best in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday, Quinn swam another best in the semi-final of the 200m breaststroke in 2:13.04 placing him 13th overall.

McMahon was 14th overall in the 200m individual medley semi-final in a time of 2:16.81 bettering her time from the heats where she swam 2:17.59. Shani Stallard also competed in the 200m IM finishing in a time of 2:22.43 while Dan Sweeney raced the 200m breaststroke in 2 minutes 14.78 seconds.

Jordan Sloan swam the heats of the 50m backstroke clocking 26.91 seconds and will return to the pool tomorrow for the 100m freestyle. McMahon is also in action with Grainne Murphy in the 400m freestyle heats while Shauna O’Brien competes in the 100m butterfly.