Sport

World Junior Swimming Championships: Conor Ferguson and Mona McSharry win silver and bronze

The World Junior Swimming Championships are taking place in the US
The World Junior Swimming Championships are taking place in the US The World Junior Swimming Championships are taking place in the US

Two Irish swimmers have won medals at the World Junior Swimming Championships in the US.

Conor Ferguson and Mona McSharry won silver and bronze at the Indianapolis competition.

Bangor swimmer Conor won silver in the 100m backstroke which meant the 17-year-old claimed Ireland's first World Junior Championship medal.

Mona's bronze was in the 50m breaststroke and the Marlins Donegal swimmer recorded a time of 30.97 seconds. She already has a European Junior Title.

The pair also competed in the mixed medley race alongside Ellen Walshe (butterfly) and Robbie Powell (freestyle). The quartet took almost two seconds off the Irish senior record, finishing sixth in three minutes 52.38 seconds. Ferguson and McSharry with Emma Reid and Gerry Quinn had held the previous record at 3:54.09.

Meanwhile, Shane Ryan won gold in the 50m backstroke at the World University Games earlier in the week. It was the first time Ireland has secured gold at the games in 26 years.