After European victory, Tokyo 2020 is in focus now more than ever
FOLLOWING her outstanding achievements at the European Junior Swimming Championships, Mona is now planning ahead for the World Seniors in Hungary before the World Juniors in the United States this August. Aside from these competitions, and more in the coming years, another sporting event is within her sights, the Olympic Games. 16-year-old Mona told the Sligo Champion: “I want to compete at the Olympics definitely down the line. I think that is every athlete’s goal. I have so many goals I want to achieve in the next few years and Tokyo 2020 is on the top of the list. I will be 19 years old then,” the Grange athlete said.
Smashing Irish Senior and Junior records, while also winning two Golds and a Silver at the European Junior Swimming Championships has cemented McSharry’s name in the swimming world. She has certainly proven she’s a force to be reckoned with in the pool.
“It was a boost. Sometimes at these Championships, there’s all these big countries and I think am I even supposed to be here but winning the medals in Israel reassured me that I’ve put in the effort and deserve to be there.”
She had little time in between competing at the Europeans, with the meets happening quickly. “It was straight through from the start. The 50m was a great one to start the meet with and getting the Gold medal was a boost.
“When I was competing in the 100m Breaststroke on Sunday it was hard because it was day five of the meet and I was tired but that’s what you work on in training, you learn to work on stamina.”
Spending on average at least three hours a day in the pool has paid off for the Marlins Club swimmer who received countless congratulations following her success. “It’s nice as an athlete when you put in the work that you get a reward. I’ve had so many people congratulating me, and online too, it was just great,the support really does help,” Mona said.
Focus now turns to Budapest at the end of July for the World Seniors. “That’s really more about experience more than anything else, then it’s onto the World Juniors in August in Indianapolis,” Mona explained.
She said she was honoured to see such crowds at her homecoming in Grange. “Meeting all the young kids and seeing all that turned out was really great.
“Meeting the kids too that I would have known from my swim coaching was brilliant.” She was also praising her parents, Viola and Aidan, for their support along with her family. “Mum and dad too have been a big support and I also got a lot of support from the pool in Ballyshannon and also everyone in ROM has been great. “My coaches in Ballyshannon, Grace Meade and Sinead Donaher have been excellent too.” After some deserved rest, it’s at the Worlds once again this summer that the remarkable and inspiring young swimmer will be aiming to carry on her success.
I WANT TO COMPETE AT THE OLYMPICS. I THINK THAT IS EVERY ATHLETE’S GOAL.