Latest news with #SwimIreland
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
McCartney prepares for World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
Enniskillen's Ellie McCartney has been selected to represent Ireland at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, joining an impressive 12-strong team that includes Olympic Champion Daniel Wiffen and fellow Olympic medallist Mona McSharry. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the 20-year-old National Centre Limerick swimmer, who earned her place on the team following her outstanding performances at the Irish Open Championships where she set a championship record in the 200m Breaststroke with a time of 2:24.35. McCartney joins an exciting blend of experienced athletes and emerging talent, with Swim Ireland naming several promising young swimmers alongside established stars like European Champion Danielle Hill and Olympic semi-finalist Tom Fannon. The team will be looking to build on Ireland's historic three-medal haul from the Paris Olympics. McCartney's preparation for Singapore continued with impressive performances at the prestigious Mare Nostrum Swim Tour, competing across venues in Barcelona and Canet-en-Roussillon. The international competition provided crucial race experience against world-class opposition ahead of the World Championships. In her first outing, McCartney qualified to both the 100m Breaststroke B Final (1:08.05) and 200m Individual Medley B Final (2:14.94), using the competition as valuable preparation for her upcoming international commitments. Her standout performance came in the 200m Breaststroke, where she demonstrated remarkable improvement throughout the competition. After clocking 2:28.18 in the heats, McCartney returned for the A final and delivered a stunning 2:25.46, narrowly missing the podium in fourth place but showing the kind of form that earned her World Championship selection. The final leg of the Mare Nostrum tour saw McCartney continue to excel. She qualified for the 100m Breaststroke A Final, recording 1:08.44 to finish sixth in a highly competitive field. Her crowning achievement came in the 200m Breaststroke Final, where McCartney claimed bronze with a time of 2:24.55, finishing just 0.3 seconds behind silver. Remarkably, the final featured at least three Olympians and a Commonwealth swimmer, underlining the quality of competition McCartney is now competing against at the highest level. McCartney's selection for the World Championships caps off a remarkable rise that has seen her become Ireland's second-fastest ever female breaststroke swimmer in both the 100m and 200m events. Her times now place her in the world's top twenty-five rankings for 2025 in the 200m Breaststroke. The busy summer schedule ahead includes the European Aquatics U23 Championships, where McCartney will look to build further on her recent success before heading to Singapore for the World Championships. Her progression from promising junior to world-class competitor has been remarkable, and she enters these major competitions with genuine medal prospects. Team Ireland's World Championships squad reflects the current strength of Irish swimming, with athletes spanning different generations and specialities. As Daniel Wiffen looks to defend his 800m and 1500m Freestyle world titles won in Doha 2024, McCartney represents the exciting future of Irish swimming on the world stage. The continued support from local sponsors Encirc and Balcas, as well as Sport NI & Sport Ireland, has been instrumental in McCartney's development, enabling her to compete at this elite level and represent both her local community and Ireland with distinction.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices during UK role
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Advertisement Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.' Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. Advertisement The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.'
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Former Swim Ireland national performance director accused of ‘bullying' and ‘weight-shaming' during previous role
BBC 'Panorama' show features allegations from several swimmers who claim Rudd pressured them over their diets and weightSwim Ireland said there is no suggestion that Rudd acted inappropriately during his eight-year spell with the organisation Today at 15:09 Swim Ireland has said there has been 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during Jon Rudd's eight-year term as national performance director in the wake of a BBC documentary in which multiple swimmers accused Rudd of bullying and weight-shaming during his previous role in England. Rudd, a native of Hull, joined Swim Ireland in 2017 and had previously spent 28 years as head coach at Plymouth Leander Swimming Club. The allegations outlined in the BBC Panorama show, which airs tonight, date from that time.
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Swim Ireland investigation found no welfare issues linked to national performance director Jon Rudd
Swim Ireland conducted an internal investigation into national performance director Jon Rudd after being made aware in 2023 of bullying allegations relating to his time with the Plymouth Leander Swimming Club in England . Swim Ireland had been advised by Swim England that there was no need to act against Rudd, who is the subject of a BBC Panorama programme, The Dark Side of Swimming, due to air on Monday night. Despite this, Swim Ireland carried out their own investigation and found no welfare issues with Irish athletes. In the programme, 12 swimmers allege that they experienced 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' with Rudd as their coach in Plymouth. According to the BBC, a lengthy investigation and report by Swim England in 2012 showed evidence that swimmers in Rudd's control at the club, where he worked for 28 years, had suffered harm. The report recommended that he be suspended for four months but no action was taken and none of the complainants were told about the outcome. READ MORE Rudd became Swim Ireland's director of performance in 2017 after moving from the Plymouth Leander club. He resigned earlier this month and is due to take up a role in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, Swim Ireland said they contacted Swim England in 2023 for further details of the 2012 report but were informed it was for information and record purposes only. 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was head coach,' Swim Ireland said in a statement on Monday. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end'. And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter.' The statement continued: 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our head of safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues such as those mentioned in the report, during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. 'Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns.' In the BBC programme world record-breaking Lithuanian swimmer Ruta Meilutyte, who won a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012, said she was left 'broken' by the harsh regime run by Rudd. Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte criticised Jon Rudd in BBC documentary. Photograph: Getty Images Others who made allegations to the BBC about Rudd included Olympic bronze medalist Cassie Patten, who said the coach had made her train with an injured shoulder and that it eventually ended her career in 2011. Commonwealth youth gold medalist, Phoebe Lenderyou alleged Rudd's regime aggravated her eating disorder. Andy Salmon, who has been CEO of Swim England since the beginning of last year, apologised to the BBC for any suffering that may have arisen from not enforcing the suspension. 'Clearly the organisation failed to act on the independent recommendations made at the time,' Salmon told the BBC. Rudd stepped down from his post as national performance director for Irish swimming on May 6th following a successful Olympic Games last year, where Irish swimmers won three medals. In a statement published on the Swim Ireland website two weeks ago, he said: 'I have very much enjoyed my time in Ireland and it quickly became home, providing me with an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of staff, athletes and coaches throughout this time. I will certainly miss the people and the role, but it is time for something fresh and the role in Saudi Arabia very much presents this.' Rudd is due to become the swimming high performance director for the Saudi Arabia Olympic and Paralympic Committee in June. He will work in close partnership with the Saudi Swimming Federation. Attempts to contact Rudd were unsuccessful.
