Sligo’s Mona McSharry finished fifth for Ireland in Wednesday’s final of the women’s 100 metres breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
The 22-year-old was in a medal position for much of the race only to be touched out of a podium place in a blanket finish for silver and bronze.
Her time of 1:06.07 and was just .13 of a second off the bronze medal.
McSharry came home behind four Olympic gold medallists including 2012 Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte from Lithuania, who took gold in 1:04.62, Tokyo 2020 200m Breaststroke champion Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa in 1:05.84, Tokyo Olympic champion in the 100m Breaststroke Lydia Jacoby of the USA in 1:05.94, and Rio 2016 gold medallist and world record holder in the event Lily King of the USA in 1:06.02.
McSharry swam inside the Olympic Qualification Time for the Paris Olympics three times in the past two days.
The Grange woman is back in the pool on Thursday when she competes in the heats of the women’s 200m breaststroke.
