Nocher qualifies for Olympics
Melanie Nocher
Melanie Nocher has capped off a positive day for Irish swimming by joining Sycerika McMahon in qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Nocher dipped under the Olympic A qualifying standard in finishing fifth in the 200m backstroke final at the European Swimming Championships in Debrecen.
Her time of 2:10.75 set a new Irish record – the second of the day.
Earlier, 17-year-old sensation McMahon secured the Olympic A standard in the 100m breaststroke.
McMahon’s Irish record time of 1:08.37 from this morning’s heats was matched in this evening’s semi-finals, progressing the Leander swimmer through to tomorrow’s final.
Fiona Doyle finished 12th in the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:09.68, and has a shot at the 200m breaststroke on Thursday.
Two other Irish swimmers in action this morning bowed out, but there was a personal best of 57.06 in the 100m freestyle from Bethany Carson, while Shani Stallard swam 1:12.28 in the 100m breaststroke.
Swim Ireland Performance Director Peter Banks said: “It’s a great day for Irish swimming, for both Sycerika and Melanie to produce great swims under big pressure was outstanding; we are obviously disappointed for Fiona, but very excited for the two girls”.
Today’s successes result in a doubling of the Irish swimming squad for the Olympics - Grainne Murphy and Barry Murphy had gone into today as the only qualifiers.
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