"That hurt, but I am very happy with that time. The time wasn't as important as getting my hand on the wall first. It wasn't pretty, but I got the job done."
"I'm on top of the world, I think it's the only way to put it."
"I just tried to hold on for dear life on the way back. The final metres hurt, it hurt a lot. I knew I needed to go to some place where I'd never gone before, so that's exactly where I went. It feels incredible to stand on the podium and hear the anthem. Breaking records is special, but winning gold for my country means everything."
The 18-year-old Galway native won the final in 1:47.89, a new world junior record, after entering as top seed. Shortt broke his own Irish senior and junior records in the semi-finals with 1:48.84, becoming the first Irishman to swim under 1:50 in the event. He used the centre lane and powered through the last 50 metres to hold off strong European competition. Earlier in the year he won gold at the World Aquatics Junior Championships and the European Junior 100m backstroke. The victory marks his first senior international title and highlights readiness for elite competition ahead of 2028.
Read at Irish Independent
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