Ellen becomes third Olympic swimmer to reach a final

ELLEN Walshe is back in the pool on Friday morning for the heats of the 200m Individual Medley at the Paris Olympics.

Becoming only the third Irish female swimmer ever to make an Olympic final, Templeogue Swim Club member placed eighth in the women’s 400m Individual Medley in a time of 4:40.70.

Ellen, swimming in her first Olympic final, was eighth in the 400m Individual Medley in 4:40.70.

The Templeogue native is just the third Irish swimmer to compete in an Olympic final.

Speaking after the race Walshe said; “I think when you look at the overall outcome, like I’m Olympic finalist, not many people are able to say that and yeah, I would have liked a stronger swim tonight and they thought I had a little bit more in me then this morning, but I think I tried to race the race beside me, than my own race at the start, so probably paid for it a little bit.’

In the heats, Ellen had an excellent swim in the 400m Individual Medley.

Eighth after the Butterfly and Backstroke legs, the Templeogue swimmer stormed through the Breaststroke and Freestyle to secure her place in the Final in 4:39.97; fourth in her heat and seventh overall.

Speaking after the race Walshe said: “It’s a bit of a shock. I saw fourth on the board and I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know, it’s just a waiting game’.

“I hadn’t seen the results from the heats before me and once I saw it, it was such a relief. I don’t think it was quite there this morning.

“The backstroke is probably my weakest stroke, I knew I had 200 to go, I could see the middle of the field and thought, ‘Okay, I just need to turn on the gears and fight.’

“I had a strong finish, and I am delighted to go into the final tonight.”