Sligo swimmer set personal bests after rushing from final exam to nationals

Irish Independent

a day ago

Among the performers was local swimmer Dominic French, who delivered excellent displays of skill in what marked his fourth consecutive year competing at this competition.
Now training at the University of Limerick and coming off a solid block of preparation, French began his campaign with a composed and strategic swim in the 200m Individual Medley, securing a personal best time of 2:14.01 and earning a place in the evening's semi-finals. Maintaining his strong form, Dominic delivered another impressive performance in the semi-finals, placing 6th overall and advancing to the A Final.
In the 200m Individual Medley A final, Dominic showcased both skills, resilience and determination, finishing as the 6th ranked Irish swimmer in a highly competitive field, his achievement was particularly commendable, as it came despite the added challenge of travelling to the University of Limerick to complete a final practical exam before returning to Dublin for the final.
On the final morning of the competition, French competed in the demanding 400m Individual Medley preliminaries – a test of a swimmer's power, endurance and ability to transition smoothly between all four strokes.
He once again showcased his talent by setting a new personal record of 4:54.36 in the heats, securing his place in the evening's A Final. Rising to the challenge, he improved further in the A Final, cutting 1.10 seconds off his previous time to finish in 4:53.26. This impressive performance propelled him from an 18th place entry seed to an overall 7th Irish competitor in the finals and 8th overall, capping off an outstanding campaign for this young man.
In the same week, fresh off a successful national competition French returned to Limerick to compete in the Munster Open Splash. Continuing his upward trajectory, he achieved three new personal bests in the 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, earning two golds and one bronze medal.
Dominic now shifts his focus to the upcoming Munster Long Course Championships, where he will make his debut. Following this he will begin preparations for the Irish Summer Nationals in July.