Mona McSharry will return to the pool to represent Ireland after being named in a 12-strong squad for December’s swimming World Championships.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist headlines a group that includes eight other Olympians for the tournament in Abu Dhabi: Daniel Wiffen, Shane Ryan, Danielle Hill, Brendan Hyland, Finn McGeever, Jack McMillan, and Ellen Walshe will all also compete.
Darragh Greene is the only Tokyo 2020 swimmer not travelling in the Ireland squad. His return to the training pool after an extended post-Olympics break comes to soon to be selected.
The Irish team will be led by team leader Jon Rudd and head coach Ben Higson, with Michael McCarthy also selected as a team coach to support the travelling contingent.
Selection for the World Championship squad ensures that these athletes will not be able to represent their country at the Europeans. Due to events being pushed back because of the pandemic, the European Championships take place in Kazan in November, too close to the worlds in December to be able to participate in both.
As a result, Ireland have named a youthful three-person squad that will travel to Russia. Multiple Irish junior record holder Eoin Corby is the most senior of the group and he will be joined by Molly Mayne and Grace Hodgins - the latter earning her first Irish cap at all levels.
National Performance Director Jon Rudd said: “After what was our most successful Olympic Games in at least 25 years, we are delighted to be able to return to some high quality international racing, something that eluded us during 2020 and 2021 as we approached Tokyo.
“There’s very much an eye on the future with some of these athletes and they all met what we felt was a stringent and robust selection policy to make these teams.
“Some athletes have been unable to take up their places, particularly for Kazan, as November is not an easy period for those in full-time education, but for those who can take the opportunity, we will look forward to some fast and exciting short course racing across the two meets.”
The World Championships is set to run over six days from 16th - 21st December, with the European equivalent also running over six days from 2nd - 7th November 2021.
Irish squad for Fina World Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE: Calum Bain (University of Stirling, Scotland), Niamh Coyne (National Centre, Dublin), Danielle Hill (Larne Swimming Club), Brendan Hyland (National Centre, Dublin), Finn McGeever (National Centre, Limerick), Jack McMillan (National Centre, Ulster), Mona McSharry (University of Tennessee), Robert Powell (National Centre, Dublin), Shane Ryan (National Centre, Dublin), Jordan Sloan (National Centre, Ulster), Ellen Walshe (University of Tennessee), Daniel Wiffen (Loughborough University).
Irish squad for LEN European Championships in Kazan, Russia: Eoin Corby (National Centre, Limerick), Grace Hodgins (Trojan Swimming Club, Dublin), Molly Mayne (Hamilton Aquatics, UAE).
