Daniel Wiffen Set for Potentially Pivotal Irish Open; Mona McSharry Leaves Options Open Ahead of LA 2028
Olympic medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry will take to the water at Swim Ireland’s 2026 Irish Open Swimming Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials that get underway in Bangor on Wednesday.
The five-day event, which runs from 8-12 April at the Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure Complex, Co. Down, acts as a selection meet for the European Championships, European Para Swimming Championships, Commonwealth Games and European juniors.
Wiffen, McSharry and Olympic finalist Ellen Walshe, along with World Junior and European Short Course champion John Shortt and European U23 champion Ellie McCartney, have all achieved initial qualification times for the European Aquatics Championships in Paris (10=16 August) following their performances at last summer’s World Championships as have 2024 European champion Danielle Hill, 2025 European (SC) bronze medallist Evan Bailey, Tom Fannon, Jack Cassin and Eoin Corby.
As a result, Wiffen, McCartney and Hill have additionally secured initial qualification times for the Commonwealth Games that run in Glasgow from 24-29 July.
Watershed Meet for Wiffen
Wiffen goes alongside twin Nathan in the 1500 free to decide the first title of the meet on Wednesday and he’ll also contest the 200, 400 and 800 free in which he won Olympic gold in Paris.
Wiffen’s last international appearance came at the short-course Europeans in Lublin, Poland, in December last year where he added a gold and two bronzes to his silverware collection.
Daniel Wiffen, left; Nathan Wiffen, right; Photo courtesy: Swim Ireland
That followed the 2025 World Championships in Singapore where he was badly affected by appendicitis which forced him to withdraw from the defence of his 1500 crown, something he said “kind of killed me inside.”
He outlined his targets for Bangor as swimming inside 3:43 for the 400, 7:42 in the 800 and below 14:40 for the 1500.
Should he not do that, then big plans may be afoot with Wiffen having moved continents and coaches last year, swapping Loughborough for the sunshine of the US west coast with Cal.
“I’m going to be very honest, if I don’t swim fast next week I’m not going to stay in California,” he told reporters.
“If I’m around those times, under or around PB, then that’s great. That obviously means the training is working, and if it doesn’t work then I [have to figure out] what I’m going do after,” he added.
“I’m thinking of coming back to Dublin if it doesn’t go well, but, we have to see. If I swim lights out in Bangor, then my decisions obviously can’t have been made.”
McSharry Rejuvenated With LA On The Horizon
McSharry has had a new lease of life since she won bronze in the 100m breaststroke in Paris. She was given an extra year’s scholarship at the University of Tennessee to continue competing although her time there is soon at an end as she completes her Master’s in leadership and communication after gaining a primary degree in kinesiology.
Mona McSharry & Tatjana Smith: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
After once loathing swimming, McSharry now has a third Olympics in her sights, two years hence at LA 2028.
“I’ve come to the decision this year that 2028 might be on the books,” she told RTE. “Loving the training aspect, you need that leading up to the Olympics.
“I’m still leaving it open in that if I turn around tomorrow and want it to be done, then I will let myself do that. I don’t want to push through if I’m not enjoying it – but I do see myself racing in 2028, especially going the way I feel right now about training.”
Following the championships, McSharry will also receive the Freedom of Sligo on 14 April.
Swim Ireland’s National Performance Director Andy Reid said: “This meet is about more than qualification; it’s about continuing to prepare our athletes and coaches to perform when it matters most. It’s an exciting time, and we look forward to seeing how fast our athletes can be as they take the next step toward delivering season-best performances on the international stage this summer.”