Claire ready for World Masters in Qatar
A TRALEE swimmer has embarked on a week of weeks in Qatari capital Doha, where she’ll begin her 2024 World Aquatic Masters championship campaign on Tuesday.
Oakview woman Claire O’Connell (32) – a long-time member of Kingdom Swimming Club and now attached to Kingdom Masters Swimming – will take part in the breaststroke competitions at 50, 100, and 200 metres over the coming days, as well as the 200-metre individual medley.
She started swimming at a young age, entering club swimming at nine, and ahead of travelling to Qatar at the weekend, she received a sponsorship cheque and Kingdom Swimming Club World Championship commemorative hoodie.
The journey from early start in the pool to competing in Doha has been long and, very often, highly successful.
“Swimming has always been a major part of my life,” she told
The Kerryman. “I have never given it up and can’t imagine my life without it. I’ve made life-long friends from it, and it has given me the opportunity to compete, train, and see different parts of the world.
“I won numerous national titles when I was younger and swimming for Kingdom Swimming Club and had represented Ireland at different events four times before I was 20!
“Since then, I have broken numerous Irish Masters Records and, once again, have represented Ireland in the Europeans in both London and Finland and the World games in New Zealand. I even managed to medal in both Finland and New Zealand!”
The 50-metre and 100-metre competitions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, the individual medley is down for Thursday, and she’ll compete in the 200-metre breaststroke on Saturday. She is part of an Irish team of about 20 members, and since gaining qualification times for Doha, she has built her training in the pool and gym around her job as a teacher. She trains mostly in Tipperary but also uses facilities at University
Limerick and Tralee Sports Complex, while Ger McDonald is her coach.
Through competing in Doha, she continues an exceptionally strong family pedigree. Her brother, Brendan, was a Special Olympics gold medallist in 2015, while brothers Mike and James are themselves no strangers to the pool, coaching and swimming at Masters level.
“All four us are close, and they have been my role models for as long as I can remember,” she said. ”We often race each other, just to see which one of us is the fastest!
“My brother, Brendan; my dad, Mike; and uncle, Tim, are all coaches with Kingdom. My dad and uncle are coaches of Kingdom Masters too.”
And there won’t be any lack of support from other family, friends, and club members either.
“They are all cheering on from home!” she said. “I’ve great support from my parents, Mike and Liz O’Connell; my brothers; and my fiancé, Liam O’Donnell, who I feel are with me every step of the way over here.
“The competition pool is amazing. I got to swim in it today [Sunday] to try it out, and it’s by far the most amazing venue I have swam in! Looking forward to racing in it!”