"On Monday evening, Shortt attended a homecoming at Galway Corinthians rugby club, where he'd spent much of his sporting youth before deciding, as an U-16, that the time was right to focus on swimming. "I didn't expect so many people to show up," he says of the welcome back. "I think half the town was there. It was great seeing everybody and I was just very proud.""
"In the 100m backstroke final on Wednesday, he hit halfway in third but produced a scorching last 50 to touch the wall first in 53.86, his second-quickest time after the 53.80 he'd done in his semi-final. It added to the European Junior title he'd won in the same event last month. Then, last Friday, he lined up for the 50m backstroke final, winning bronze in 25.06."
"Last up was the 200m backstroke final on Sunday, where Shortt broke his Irish senior record to win with ease in 1:56.19. Two global golds, one bronze, and personal bests in three events. Weeks don't come much sweeter. "I don't know if I've really processed it. The next while, I'll try and digest it more but I'm just super proud and really, really happy to come away with not just a few golds, but personal bests.""
Shortt, an 18-year-old swimmer from Galway, received congratulations from Daniel Wiffen and messages calling him a "beast". He attended a large homecoming at Galway Corinthians rugby club, where many from his sporting youth gathered. Shortt targeted three events at the World Juniors in Otopeni, winning the 100m backstroke in 53.86, taking bronze in the 50m backstroke in 25.06, and breaking the Irish senior record to win the 200m backstroke in 1:56.19. He recorded two global golds, one bronze, and personal bests in three events. Shortt also learned his Leaving Cert points and felt emotionally overwhelmed.
Read at Irish Independent
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