Claire swims to world glory
TRALEE swimmer Claire O’Connell travelled to Doha, Qatar, to compete at the World Aquatic Masters Championship. She’ll return as a world champion with two medals and three national records to her name.
It’s safe to say her world has changed in a week; the 32-yearold Oakpark woman raced in four events and finished in the top five of each. But even within a week of stellar achievements, one moment stands out.
“When I finished the 50-metre breaststroke race, I genuinely could not believe that I had come first,” she tells The Kerryman.
“I could see the number ‘one’ next to my time, but it wasn’t until they announced it that I actually believed it.”
That she won by a fingernail, 0.2 seconds ahead of her Hungarian counterpart, made the win “even sweeter”, but also harder for reality to sink in.
“For the rest of the day, I kept having moments where I was sure I was dreaming!” she says “It was such a close race! I have never won a race by such a short margin before.
“It was an amazing week and an experience I will never forget. My first swim [the 100-metre breaststroke, in which Claire finished fifth] didn’t go to plan, and I was upset after it. But, after reflecting on the race, it made me determined to swim better in the 50-metre breaststroke, and that’s exactly what I did!
“After the 50-metre breaststroke, I was buzzing for the rest of the races, the nerves had calmed down, and I was focused.”
Claire won that gold while recording a national-best time of 34.07 seconds, and her performances later in the week also skittled Irish records.
Her 2:32.97 time in the 200-metre individual was the best recorded by an Irish Master in the 30-34 age category Claire races in, but it fell narrowly short of a medal as she had to settle for fourth.
But on Saturday, Claire was back on the podium, this time finishing second in the 200-metre breaststroke; her time, 2:48.21 minutes, another Irish record.
At the end of this week of weeks, she thanks Kingdom Swimming Club, Kingdom Masters Swimming Club, Tipperary Sharks Swimming Club, Mitchelstown Leisure Centre, Tipperary
Town Swimming Pool, and her workplace, Mitchelstown’s Presentation Secondary School. The teacher returned to a hero’s welcome from students on Monday.
Coach Ger McDonald obviously deserves a mention, as does Mitchelstown-based personal trainer Billy Dingivan.
Lastly, but certainly not least, her family, including her parents and brothers; fiancée Liam; and everyone who cheered her on this week.
“For now, I plan to take a few days off swimming but will be back in the water by the end of the week,” she says. “I’m not sure what my plan is from now. The Europeans are on in the summer, but I am getting married in August, so I think I’ll enjoy the build up to the wedding for a while.
“For now, I’ll continue to train at a reduced rate, and help train Tipperary Sharks Swimming Club and Kerry Stars Special Olympics in the pool.”