McCartney wins gold at Euro Under-23 championship
Ellie McCartney won gold in the 200m individual medley at the European Under-23 Championships in Slovakia. The 20-year-old from Enniskillen was third at the halfway stage of the race but surged into the lead during the breaststroke leg and ultimately finished in two minutes 12.5 seconds, 1.22 secs ahead of France's Bertille Cousson with Slovakia's Tamara Potocka in third. "I wasn't expecting it. Coming in I knew I was fastest seed but I knew the other girls had faster times in them, their PBs were quite a bit faster than mine," she said."You just get in, race who's there on the day and get your hand to the wall first and to get my hand on the wall first is really exciting."The European Under-23 Championships were first held two years ago when Irish swimmers Daniel Wiffen, Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe all won gold.McCartney will return to the pool on Friday morning in the heats of the 100m breaststroke.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
USA too strong for Ireland in friendly clash
Two goals in each half condemned the Republic of Ireland to a 4-0 defeat against the USA in the first of two friendly meetings. The US, ranked number one in the world, dominated throughout with the 25th-ranked Irish side managing just one shot during the 90 minutes. Advertisement Avery Patterson's first international goal put the hosts in front after 18 minutes in Colorado, Sam Coffey doubling the advantage deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Rose Lavelle added a third early in the second half with Alyssa Thompson completing the scoring with a spectacular solo goal just after the hour. Ireland's Emily Murphy did force a sharp save from debutant goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, but the offside flag would have ruled out her half volley. The two sides meet again on Sunday in Cincinnati.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
We want Olympic gold for Charlie. Scottish curlers to compete in memory of young footballer who lost skin cancer battle
TEAM GB 's men's curling team are determined to win Winter Olympic gold in memory of a young Scottish footballer who died after a battle with skin cancer. Charlie Watson, who continued playing for Threave Rovers despite his diagnosis, was a close family friend of curler Grant Hardie and an avid fan of the Scottish team skippered by Bruce Mouat. Watson, who passed away at the age of 20 two weeks ago, raised thousands of pounds for cancer research and hit the headlines when he played in a televised Scottish Cup clash against Stranraer last October. Hardie, part of the Scotland team who won the world championship in April, described Watson as 'a special individual', while team-mate Hammy McMillan said they will be fighting to win gold in his honour in Italy early next year. 'Charlie's mum and dad have sponsored our team for years and they're close family friends, so it's heartbreaking for all of us,' said Hardie, who was brought up in Dumfries. 'I was his stepdad's groomsman at his wedding, and we've known each other for a long time. 'We raised $10,000 for Charlie in our recent Battle of the Sexes match in Toronto organised by the Grand Slam of Curling. We played against Rachel Homan's Canada team — so it was the men's world No 1 men's team against the world No 1 women's team. The arena was sold out — with 4,000 people in attendance — and all the money went to our two charities. 'Charlie was meant to fly out to the event but, sadly, he couldn't manage because of his condition by then.' McMillan added: 'His mum and stepdad, Amanda and Richard, have been terrific supporters over the years. We've always kept in touch. Charlie said he couldn't thank us enough for what we'd done. He said it was just the best. It makes you upset, we would have done anything to help him. 'We will absolutely be fighting for gold for Charlie at next year's Olympics. His mum and stepdad have already booked tickets to come to Italy. Hopefully, we can do it for Charlie, and for all our families as well, that have supported our journey. That would top it all off.' Hardie said the young footballer had found great solace from the messages of support he received from around the country. 'Charlie had some lovely messages, including from Steven Gerrard and Duncan Ferguson. They were really nice, inspirational messages and gave him a lift. He really appreciated that. 'His mum had done so much research and had found a machine that targeted the treatment, so the money raised went towards that. Unfortunately, it was just a little too late by then, and the cancer had spread to his brain. 'Charlie was always so positive. He was always looking to find ways to defeat it. He fought so hard — right until the very end.' As well as honouring Watson, Team GB's men's curling team will be attempting to make history at the Winter Olympics. GB men haven't won gold at the event since 1924 when Willie Jackson, son Laurence, Robin Welsh and Tom Murray triumphed in Chamonix in France, in what was then a demonstration event. It wasn't until 2006 that curling was officially recognised as an event at the Games — and for Jackson's rink to be credited as Olympic champions. Should Team Mouat take gold they will arguably become Britain's best men's team of all time, having won two world championships and multiple other competitions domestically and worldwide. Chosen to lead the GB charge, the Scots narrowly missed out on gold to Sweden in the Olympic final at Beijing 2022. Mouat's confident they can go one better at Milano Cortina next February after a year of success at both World and European level. 'It's been a long journey. The last three years we've put a lot of work in to get to this point, and it's really satisfying to know we're now the team. That's where the hard work starts again,' said the 30-year-old. 'It's not just about being there, it's about coming home with the right colour of medal, after being so close last time. 'Losing in Beijing was very tough. Athletes often talk about the 'hangover' from an Olympics. It was pretty tough to get motivated to go back onto the ice after that, and to wrap your head around the dream you've had for so long, just not being the right colour of medal. I wanted to go to an Olympics, I achieved that, but I also wanted to bring back the gold medal and getting so close was really hard. It took me around six months to really want to be back on the ice. 'We did end up coming out the other side, and then won the World Championship (in Canada in April) in front of our families, which was extra special.' Mouat, who will be joined by McMillan, Hardie and Bobby Lammie in Italy next year, described the prospect of becoming the first British team since 1924 to win gold as 'pretty cool'. He said: 'We still have all that drive to want to go and win it. That's why we're putting so much effort in. I love playing with the guys and love my sport.' Mouat will pair up again in the mixed doubles with Jen Dodds, who won gold with Eve Muirhead's rink in Beijing and will this time join Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Jackson and Sophie Sinclair in Italy. He added: 'I'm also really fortunate that I've got another opportunity with Jen in the mixed doubles, so I'm really lucky to have the chance there as well to do it again.'
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Bryson DeChambeau peeks ahead to 'diabolical' Portrush, backs Bradley for Ryder Cup
June 27 - His best performance in a major this season is yet to come, Bryson DeChambeau hopes, but he knows first-hand the challenge waiting at Royal Portrush. "It can be diabolical," DeChambeau said recalling his previous appearance on the track pegged to host the Open Championship next month. "Driver is key on that golf course in wind conditions, in side-wind conditions. It's going to be a good test of controlling your golf ball, so I've got to be in touch with my game. I've got to have better feel." DeChambeau missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Oakmont after two top-five finishes at majors to start the season. He was T2 at the PGA Championship after settling for a tie for fifth at the Masters, where he played in the final grouping Sunday with champion Rory McIlroy. DeChambeau, playing at LIV Golf Dallas near his current home of Grapevine this week, missed the cut at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon. But he won the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and was runner-up at the PGA Championship at Valhalla coming off a T6 at the Masters that year. "Yeah, I'd say disappointed that I haven't won one yet. I've got to fine-tune my game and focus on executing my shots the way I know I can on the golf course. I haven't been doing that recently," DeChambeau said of his performance in majors this season. "A little bit more due diligence on my side of the coin. Not taking things for granted and focusing on what I can do to give myself the best chance to win at the British Open." Beyond the upcoming test overseas, DeChambeau is eyeing a spot on the 2025 Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black. Ranked 15th in the current Official World Golf Ranking, DeChambeau is eight spots behind U.S. captain Keegan Bradley. A teammate from past Ryder Cup appearances, DeChambeau believes Bradley should be a playing captain for the Americans based on his current form. In current Ryder Cup points standings, where Scottie Scheffler has clinched a qualifying spot, DeChambeau is fifth and one ahead of No. 6 Justin Thomas with the automatic qualifier cutoff line separating Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin and Bradley. "I personally think given how he's played, I could confidently say he should be a part of the team for sure," DeChambeau said. --Field Level Media
