06-07-2025
Ards' Grace Davison ‘ecstatic' as she claims bronze at European Aquatics Championships
That, along with John Shortt's gold in the 100m Backstroke, helped Ireland to claim two medals as the final night of the Championships got underway, bringing their medal tally up to four, one gold and three bronze.
Davison produced a personal best time of 2:14.05 to claim her second bronze in two days having won in the 100m Freestyle on Saturday night.
The Paris Olympian had a fight on her hands and showed her steel throughout the race. As Davison and her competitors headed into the freestyle leg, the Ards swimmer showed the fight to get her hand on the wall first and light up the blocks, winning her third European Junior bronze by 0.14 of a second.
After the race, Davison said: 'I'm ecstatic, I'm very glad it's all over, I've had a lot of racing this week. Going through the heats, Semis and Finals isn't something that I was really used to, but we've had to do a lot more of it with Olympic Trials last year, the Irish Open this year, I'm definitely getting used to it but it is hard work.
"Last night took it out of me… third tonight, I'm over the moon.'
On winning bronze in a tightly contested race, she added: 'It was pure grit and determination. I know how it feels from winning a medal last year, it feels so much better this year, especially to walk away with two individually.
"For Ireland to come away with four is unbelievable, for people back home, even the younger ones will definitely look up to that. For Ireland to be consistently on the medal table, and high up at all levels is amazing.
'(The support) is unreal, you probably don't see much of it on the livestream, the guys are all here for every Semi-Final, every Final, some even the heats. To walk out and hear all of them is unbelievable, we have been one of the loudest.
"To have so many parents here is great, my parents and sister are here, they've never all watched me swim at something like this, I really feel the support from here and back home.'
Davison will now set her sights on the World Junior Championships at the end of August in Otopeni, Romania.
On the conclusion of the championships, interim Swim Ireland Performance Director Andrew Reid said: 'What a finish to an unforgettable European Aquatics Junior Championships. Grace dug deep in the 200m IM to add another win bronze to her medal collection.
"Across the meet our team delivered four podium finishes, one top eight finish, four top-16 finishes, two new Irish records and 11 personal best swims. From our seasoned veterans to the rising stars making their national team debut, every athlete stepped up, representing Ireland with pride, passion, and determination.
"Well done athletes, team staff and home programme coaches for all your hard work.'
