Walshe posts new Irish record in Rome

ELLEN Walshe claimed an outstanding gold medal in a new Irish Record in the 400m Individual Medley as she continued her preparations for Paris in Rome at the Sette Colli Meet in Rome on Sunday.

Walshe, competing against World and Olympic medallists in the A Final, had set the standard at 4:37.94 just three weeks ago at the Irish Open and Olympic Trials.

On Saturday, the Templeogue swimmer powered home in 4:37.18 having led throughout the race.

Speaking after the race Walshe said ‘I’m delighted with that swim, it’s a great race before going into Paris, it gives me a lot of confidence.

I think coming in tonight I was against the best in the world, so I knew I was going to have to be pretty quick through the front end.

The backstroke is my weakest stroke, so I was just trying to stay on the lane line with the sun in my eyes.’

She added ‘I’m really surprised with that time.

‘I knew going out in front of the field I was going to put myself in a difficult position to finish it, I think I just used my skills on the back end, my underwaters and I was able to get in front of the field, so yeah I’m delighted with it.’