John Shortt Shatters Irish Record in 200m Backstroke at European Short Course Championships
The 2025 European Short Course Championships kicked off with a thrilling performance from Irish swimmer John Shortt, who claimed the 4th seed alongside Hugo Gonzalez of Spain in the men's 200m backstroke heats. Shortt, just 18 years old, delivered a stunning performance, slicing nearly a second off his Irish record. His new time of 1:50.65 is a significant improvement on his previous best of 1:51.60, achieved at last year's Short Course World Championships.
Shortt's strategy in the race was to conserve energy in the first half, before making a powerful final push. He dipped under the 14-second threshold in three of the last four lengths, showcasing his exceptional speed and endurance. This impressive performance builds on his success at the World Junior Championships, where he claimed gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, as well as bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Despite his remarkable achievement, Shortt faces strong competition from seasoned swimmers like Mewen Tomac and Luke Greenbank, who are ranked higher heading into the semi-finals. However, Shortt's performance has undoubtedly solidified his position as a contender for the title. Other notable men's swimmers include Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Jan Cejka, and Jack Skerry, all of whom are expected to challenge for top spots.
The 200m backstroke is a highly competitive event, with world records and junior records held by Hubert Kos and Kliment Kolesnikov, respectively. Shortt's performance places him in the top 16, setting the stage for an exciting race as the Championships progress.
